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V  PRINCETON,  N.  J.  *4f 


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Sample,  Robert  F.  1829-1905 
Memoir  of  the  Rev.  John  C. 
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REV.  JOHN   C.  THOM. 


BV    THE 

V 

RKV.   ROBKRT  F.  SAMPLE. 


WITH     AN     INTRODUCTION, 

BY    THE 

KKV.  W.  S.  PLUMRR,  D.  D. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
JAMES    S.    CLAXTON, 

SUCCESSOR     TO     WM.     S.     .t     ALFRED    MARTIEN. 

1214  Chestnut  Street. 
ISfiS. 


Entered,  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1867, 
By  Rev.  ROBERT  F.  SAMPLE, 

In  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  for  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 

PRINTED  BV  ALFRED  MARTIEN. 


C  O  N  T  E  N  T  S . 


Page 
Introduction * 

CHAPTER  I. 

Birth— Childhood— Religious     Experience— Enters    the 

Academy 13 

CHAPTER  II. 

Enters  Jefferson  College— Revival— Afflictions— Gradu- 
ation       30 

CHAPTER  III. 
Returns    to    Eldersridge— The      Teacher— The     tender 

Nurse — Efforts  to  do  good 48 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Teaches  in  Natchez,  Mississippi — The  Pestilence — 
Diligence,  and  Success— Pleasant  Relations — Re- 
turns North 58 

CHAPTER    Y. 

Extracts  from  Journal 70 

CHAPTER  \1. 

Enters  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton— Attentive 
to  duty — Growth  in  Piety — Licensure — Called  to 
Waynesburg,    Pennsylvania 100 


4  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Enters  upon  his  labors  in  Wayncsburg — Ordained  and 
installed — The  Earnest  Preacher,  and  Faithful  Pas- 
tor— Revival — Attention  to  the  bereaved,  the  poor, 
the  stranger,  the  aged,  and  the  young 117 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Benevolence  nrged — Co-operation  on  the  part  of  the 
Church — Habits  of  Study — Style  of  preaching — 
Jesus    only 141 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Characteristics — Self  forgetfulness — Patience—  Hospital- 
ity— Sympathy — Concern  for  souls — Cheerfulness — 
Depression 166 

CHAPTER  X. 

The  Husband  and  Father 179 

CHAPTER  XL 

Miscellaneous  Letters 189 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Afflictions — Visits  army — Labors  in  other  churches — 
Invasion  of  Pennsylvania  by  the  Confederates  — 
Enters  the  army  as  a  private — Chosen  Chaplain  — 
Faithful  labor,  and  its  results— Returns  home 203 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Last   days    at  Waynesburg — Called  to    St.    Louis — Sad 

partings 222 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Labors  in  the  Pine  Street  Church  of  St.  Louis- Re- 
cftlled  to  Pennsylvania  by  domestic  afQiction — Re- 
turns to  St.  Louis — Sickness — Death 237 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  memoirs  of  even  bad  men  may  be  useful 
in  warning  us  against  their  errors  and  their 
doom.  So  mankind  generally  judge.  So  in- 
spired writers  have  decided,  by  sketching  the 
history  of  not  a  few,  who  were  a  curse  and  not 
a  blessing.  Much,  more  may  the  biography 
of  good  men  be  profitable  in  instructing  us  in 
a  way  that  is  good,  and  in  inciting  us  to  seek 
for  glory,  honor,  and  immortality. 

The  subject  of  the  following  memoir  was  a 
very  good  man.  Perhaps  no  one,  who  knew 
him,  will  hesitate  to  give  a  hearty  assent  to 
this  statement.  Nor  should  his  early  death 
hinder  the  publication  of  his  memoir.  Some 
men  die  old  in  experience  and  usefulness  at 
thirty  years  of  age;  while  others,  who  live 
twice  as  long,  seem  to  have  lived  in  vain. 
He  has  lived  long,  who  has  glorified  God  in 
1* 


6  INTRODUCTION. 

the  earth,  and  finished  the  work  God  gave 
him  to  do.  Mr.  Thom  was  a  man  remarkable 
for  his  humility,  cheerfulness,  deep  experience, 
reliance  on  the  promises,  conscientiousness, 
industry,  and  usefulness.  He  lived  a  great 
deal  in  a  short  time.  Nor  does  it  detract 
from  his  credit  or  the  probable  utility  of  his 
record,  that  he  spent  most  of  his  ministerial 
life  in  comparative  privacy.  I  have  seen  him 
in  the  midst  of  his  plain,  worthy,  and  intelli- 
gent people,  moving  noiselessly,  always  com- 
manding respect,  constantly  watching  for  op- 
portunities to  speak  a  word  in  season,  and 
often  making  a  deep  impression  by  a  single 
sentence.  I  did  not  therefore  wonder  at 
the  happy  influence  which  he  everywhere 
exerted. 

It  seems  to  be  generally  agreed  that  well 
written  memoirs  of  persons  venerable  for 
years,  piety,  and  services,  are  entitled  to  much 
favor.  Of  late  years,  also,  the  public  have 
received  with  much  kindness  sketches  of  the 
lives  of  young  children.  Surely,  then,  the 
biography  of  those  who  are  cut  down  in  the 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

midst  of  their  clays  and  of  their  usefulness 
cannot  be  destitute  of  interest  or  instruction. 

Sometimes,  when  we  read  the  lives  of  very 
great  men,  we  are  filled  with  wonder  at  their 
prodigious  powers,  and  at  the  amazing  results 
of  their  plans  and  labors.  There  never  was 
but  one  Gustavus  Adolphus,  one  Turenne, 
one  Washington,  one  Paul,  one  Bunyan,  one 
Whitefield.  When  we  read  to  what  they  rose, 
we  say,  It  is  high,  we  cannot  attain  to  it.  But 
when  we  behold  the  struggles,  conflicts,  and 
successes  of  such  a  man  as  dear  Mr.  Thom, 
many  an  humble  and  good  man,  possessed  of 
good  sense,  a  ready  perception  of  plain  truth, 
and  a  fair  opportunity  of  cultivating  his  mind, 
heart,  and  manners,  says,  By  God's  grace  I  too 
may  be  a  blessing  to  the  world ;  I  too  may 
rise  to  honor;  I  too  may  shine  as  the  stars  for 
ever  and  ever. 

I  have  not  seen  the  biography  contained  in 
this  volume.  I  have  merely  seen  the  table  of 
contents.  But  even  without  perusal,  I  cannot 
hesitate  to  commend  it  to  the  reader.  The 
author    is  one  whom  I  have  loner  esteemed. 


8  INTRODUCTION. 

He  is  very  capable  of  doing  his  work  well.  In 
his  labor  he  has  been  animated  by  a  strong 
and  tender  love  to  the  memory  of  the  departed. 
And  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Thorn  he  could  not  have 
failed  to  find  much  that  was  worthy  of  state- 
ment or  delineation.  He  has  also  had  access 
to  the  best  sources  of  information. 

If  any  inquire  for  the  secret  of  Mr.  Thorn's 
usefulness,  the  answer  should  point  immedi- 
ately to  the  grace  of  God,  which  toward  him 
was  very  abundant.  To  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  both  he  and  his  best  friends 
ascribed  all  that  was  above  and  beyond  un  re- 
generate human  nature. 

While  this  is  unquestionable,  we  still  look 
at  particular  points  in  Mr.  Thorn's  character, 
which  were  employed  by  the  God  of  all  grace 
for  making  him  a  chosen  vessel  for  conveying 
spiritual  good  to  many.  He  had  an  uncom- 
mon measure  of  that  uncommon  quality — 
common  sense.  This  was  the  means  of  pre- 
serving him  from  a  thousand  follies,  which 
destroy  or  impair  usefulness.  It  kept  him 
from   wild    fancies    and    vagaries,    in    which 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

SO  many  bury  their  opportunities  of  doing 
good.  He  was  not  carried  away  by  mere 
plausibilities.  He  attempted  no  impossible 
things.  He  took  men  as  he  found  them. 
He  did  not  heal  slightly  the  hurt  of  God's  peo- 
ple. He  cast  not  pearls  before  swine,  nor  gave 
that  which  is  holy  unto  the  dogs.  He  dis- 
cerned both  time  and  judgment.  He  did  not 
put  new  wine  into  old-bottles. 

Then,  he  was  humble,  and  so  free  from  the 
arrogance  of  pride,  justly  offensive  to  men.  It 
was  easy  for  him  in  honor  to  prefer  others.  He 
loved  to  learn  from  any  who  could  give  him 
either  instruction  or  information.  He  abhor- 
red vain  pretensions.  He  readily  condescended 
to  men  of  low  estate.  He  was  habitually 
ready  to  receive  the  decisions  of  God's  word 
on  all  points  of  faith  and  practice.  Even  his 
prudential  maxims  were  chiefly  drawn  from 
Scripture,  especially  the  book  of  Proverbs. 

Another  thing  prominent  in  Mr.  Thom's 
character  was  benevolence.  He  loved  sin- 
cerely and  ardently.  Very  tenderly  did  he 
pity  both  the  sorrowing  and  the  sinful.     Who 


10  INTKUDUCTION. 

ever  heard  him,  in  all  his  public  Hie,  say  a 
word  that  could  be  fairly  construed  into  ma- 
levolence? He  prayed  for  his  enemies.  He 
blessed,  and  cursed  not.  He  abhorred  all 
double-dealing,  all  calumny,  all  evil  surmising. 
He  forgave  as  he  hoped  to  be  forgiven. 

And  his  zeal  abounded.  He  was,  upon  deep 
conviction,  a  staunch  and  uniform  friend  of 
pure,  solemn,  powerful*  revivals  of  religion. 
He  never  doubted  the  wisdom  of  God  in 
granting  harvests  both  to  the  husbandman 
and  to  him  who  gathereth  fruit  unto  life  eter- 
nal. In  his  early  years  he  witnessed  some  of 
the  most  remarkable  displays  of  Divine  grace 
in  the  conversion  of  many  souls.  The  memory 
of  these,  confirmed  by  Scripture,  was  hallowed, 
even  as  the  scenes  of  Bethel  doubtless  always 
lingered  about  the  mind  of  Jacob.  He  had 
seen  God's  power  and  glory. 

But  Mr.  Thom  early  settled  in  his  mind 
that  pure  revivals  of  religion  were  not  to  be 
expected  except  in  connection  with  sound  reli- 
gious instruction.  Therefore  he  was  diligent 
in  teaching  the  people  knowledge.   He  desired 


INTRODUCTION.  11 

that  the  word  of  God  might  dwell  in  them 
richly  in  all  wisdom  and  spiritual  understand- 
ing. To  this  end  he  was  instant  in  season  and 
out  of  season.  I  think  he  excelled  most  men 
in  remembering  that  the  night  comcth  when 
no  man  can  work,  and  that  he  which  convert- 
eth  the  sinner  from  the  error  of  his  way  shall 
save  a  soul  from  death,  and  shall  hide  a  mul- 
titude of  sins. 

The  life  and  labors  of  such  a  man,  when 
known,  must  be  useful  to  many.  In  his  early 
removal  from  the  church  below,  many  mourn. 
But  the  death  of  every  believer  is  in  answer  to 
the  intercession  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ: 
"Father,  I  will  that  they  also,  whom  thou  hast 
given  me,  be  with  me  where  I  am;  that  they 
may  behold  my  glory,  which  thou  hast  given 
me."  John  xvii.  24.  It  often  happens  that 
"  God  takes  them  soonest,  whom  he  loves  best." 
The  memory  of  Mr.  Thorn  is  precious  to 
thousands.  In  his  death  I  mourn  the  loss  of 
one  of  the  best  and  most  unflinching  friends, 
and  one  of  the  most  modest,  manly,  and  agree- 
able companions  of  my  life.     For  this  Memoir 


12  INTRODUCTION. 

I  bespeak  the  most  friendly  regards  of  my 
acquaintance;  and  for  the  amiable  and  deso- 
late widow  of  the  deceased,  and  for  his  father- 
less and  promising  children,  I  bespeak  all  the 
good  will  due  to  those  whose  father  and  hus- 
band lived  to  show  kindness  and  do  good  to 
all  men  as  he  had  opportunity. 

Wm.  S.  Plumer. 

TheoJvtjical  Seitiinari/,  Cohunhia,  S.  C. 
September  25,  1867. 


MEMOIR 


REY.   JOHN   C.   THOM 


CHAPTER    I. 

BIRTH CHILDHOOD ENTERS    THE    ACADEMY. 

John  Culbertson  Thom  was  born  in  Clarion 
county,  Pennsylvania,  April  19tb,  1830.  His 
parents  were  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His 
grandfather  came  to  this  country  when  a 
boy,  and  participated  in  the  struggle  for 
American  Independence.  He  lived  for  a 
time  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  married  a  sister  of  General 
A.  Craig,  of  Revolutionary  memory.  John 
Thom,  the  father  of  John  Culbertson,  was 
brought  up  according  to  the  old  Presbyterian 
mode.  When  quite  young  he  was  a  subject 
of  the  falling  exercise^  then  prevailing  in  that 
2 


14  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

region.  He  was  a  godly  man,  and  possessed 
more  than  ordinary  force  of  character.  In 
1812  he  married  Margaret  Culbertson,  whose 
father,  a  fine  scholar,  had  educated  her  much 
beyond  the  average  of  that  day.  She  was 
remarkably  gentle,  sensitive,  retiring,  and 
pious.  She  loved  her  home,  and  it  was  the 
sphere  of  her  greatest  usefulness.  She  drew 
largely  from  the  resources  of  her  youth  in  the 
education  of  her  children,  giving  special  atten- 
tion to  their  religious  culture ;  mingling  sacred 
history,  texts  of  Scripture,  and  pleasant  poems 
in  her  daily  teachings.  She  was  spared  to  her 
family  but  a  few  years  after  the  birth  of  her 
youngest  child,  "  the  Benjamin"  of  the  house- 
hold ;  but  in  that  short  period  she  had  planted 
precious  seed  ia  the  mind  of  her  darling  boy, 
whose  heart  seemed,  in  early  childhood,  to  be 
turned  toward  heaven.  She  was  an  ardent 
lover  of  nature,  and  her  refined  taste  reap- 
peared in  her  son. 

Much  might  be  said  of  the  educational  in- 
fluence of  scenery.  The  natural  surroundings 
of  early  life  no  doubt  determine,  to  a  consider- 


REV.    JOHN    C.   THOM.  15 

able  extent,  the  habits  of  thought  and  feeling 
through  all  the  subsequent  years.  The  life  of 
which  we  write  was  associated  in  childhood 
with  one  of  the  sweetest  spots  in  a  region 
noted  for  its  picturesque  beauty.  Our  thoughts 
revert  to  an  unpretending  little  house,  nestling 
among  the  hills.  There  was  a  lawn  and 
flower  garden  in  front  of  it,  a  large  orchard 
behind  it.  In  summer  the  hills  were  clothed 
with  all  the  varied  tints  of  forest  green,  from 
the  light  poplar  and  quivering  aspen  tree,  to 
the  feathery  pine  and  sombre  hemlock,  and 
through  the  shady  valley  near  by,  a  little 
brook  went  softly  murmuring  on  its  way, 
while  the  over-hanging  branches  were  gay 
with  birds  of  tenderest  note  and  fairest 
plumage,  and  the  air  was  ladened  with  the 
fragrance  of  wild  flowers. 

The  mother  was  wont  to  associate  religion, 
in  the  minds  of  her  children,  with  the  beauti- 
ful surroundings  of  their  home.  When  she 
told  them  the  names  of  plants  and  flowers, 
marked  their  delicate  tints  and  grateful 
fragrance,  she  directed  their  thoughts  to  Him 


16  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

wbo  made  the  lilies,  and  "so  clothed  the  grass 
of  the  fields."  The  sparkling  waters,  too, 
were  associated  with  the  streams  which  make 
glad  the  city  of  our  God,  and  with  the  river  of 
the  water  of  life.  When,  wearied  with  play, 
the  little  ones  gathered  around  her  in  the 
evening  twilight,  watching  the  stars  as  they 
came  out  from  their  chambers  in  the  sky,  and 
learning  from  her  their  names,  she  spoke  of 
the  "Morning  Star,"  of  the  "Star  of  Bethle- 
hem," and  of  them  who,  having  turned  many 
to  righteousness,  "  shall  shine  as  the  stars  for 
ever  and  ever."  So  that  being  dead,  she  yet 
spake  to  the  bereaved  family  who  now,  indeed 
found 

"Tongues  in  trees,  books  in  the  running  brooks. 
Sermons  in  stones,  and  good  in  everything." 

Like  all  the  children,  the  youngest  was 
early  taught  the  important  duty  of  filial 
obedience.  The  word  of  the  parent  was  law 
in  the  home,  and  loving  submission  was 
promptly  yielded.  One  day  John  was  sport- 
ing about  the  house  in  great  glee,  happy  as 
a   child    could   be.     After   awhile,   becoming 


REV.   JOHN   C,   THOM.  17 

thirsty,  he  asked  his  mother  for  water.  His 
father  brought  it,  but  he  was  unwilling  to 
take  it  from  any  one  except  the  mother,  and 
persisted  in  the  refusal.  Then  the  father  took 
the  cup  in  one  hand  and  a  rod  in  the  other, 
telling  the  child  to  drink.  Still  he  would  not. 
After  a  few  strokes  of  the  rod,  the  cup  was 
again  offered,  and  refused  as  before.  But  the 
will  of  the  child  must  yield  to  the  will  of  the 
parent,  or  sad  consequences  may  follow. 
Nearly  two  hours  elapsed  before  submission 
was  secured.  Then  John  put  his  arms  about 
his  father's  neck  and  kissed  him,  and  never 
again  refused  to  obey  a  direct  command. 

John's  love  for  his  mother  was  very  strong. 
In  later  years  he  clung  to  her  memory  with  a 
beautiful  and  touching  affection.  He  seemed 
to  inherit  the  strong  will  of  his  father,  and  the 
tender  sensibilities  of  his  mother;  a  manly 
head  and  a  womanly  heart.  His  gentle  mother 
died  shortly  before  he  attained  to  his  fourth 
year — that  tender  mother  whose  touch  had 
always  soothed  her  boy,  whose  kind  look  had 
always  comforted  him.  They  buried  her  on  a 
2* 


18  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

cold  November  day.  Her  bosom  was  hia 
refuge  no  longer,  and  ever  after  the  shadow  of 
her  grave  rested  on  his  heart. 

On  the  evening  of  that  sad  funeral  day, 
when  sympathizing  friends  had  all  gone  to 
their  homes,  and  the  little  household,  left  alone 
in  their  great  sorrow,  gathered  for  family 
prayers,  John  sat  in  his  accustomed  place, 
silently  looking  at  his  father,  who  tried  in  vain 
to  sing  the  evening  hymn.  Alas!  the  voice 
that  had  daily  joined  his  in  the  sweet  psalms 
of  praise  was  hushed,  and  the  children,  how- 
ever much  they  may  have  wished  to  aid  their 
sorrow-stricken  parent,  could  not  do  it.  That 
evening  John  resolved  that  he  would  try  to 
take  his  mother's  place  in  this  part  of  their 
devotions,  and,  though  many  difficulties  sur- 
rounded him,  his  great  motive  so  helped  him, 
that  when  still  a  mere  child  he  led  the  family 
singing.  In  after  years  he  excelled  in  vocal 
music,  and  the  writer  has  often  been  deeply 
moved  whilst  hearing  him  sing  some  touching 
hymn  concerning  Jesus,  the  resurrection,  or 
heaven. 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  19 

Soon  after  the  death  of  his  mother,  John 
was  taken  sick.  He  grew  worse  day  by  day, 
pined  away,  and  at  length  seemed  to  be  on  the 
borders  of  the  grave.  The  father  felt  deeply 
anxious  for  his  boy,  and  wrestled  with  God 
for  his  life.  He  prevailed;  and  receiving  his 
child  as  one  from  the  dead,  dedicated  him 
anew  to  God. 

This  was  a  sad  and  weary  winter  to  John, 
who  mourned  much  for  his  mother.  But  with 
returning  spring  he  regained  his  wonted 
strength,  and  returned,  with  the  happy  elasti- 
city of  childhood,  to  his  usual  pastimes. 

It  had  been  a  custom  with  the  children, 
when  the  winter  was  past,  to  go  into  the 
woods  near  by  and  look  for  wild  flowers, 
which  very  early  lifted  their  petals  among  the 
dry  leaves,  and  this  season  they  went  as  usual, 
though  there  was  no  lap  at  home  to  receive 
their  precious  burdens  when  they  returned. 
One  morning  in  April,  when  thus  engaged, 
their  father  being  absent  from  home,  they  dis- 
covered that  a  small  building  adjoining  the 
house  was  on  fire.     In  a  little  while  the  flames 


20  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

communicated  with  the  main  building.  Great 
was  the  alarm  of  the  children,  and  they 
hastened  home.  John  was  a  brave  boy,  but, 
too  young  to  contend  with  the  devouring  ele- 
ment, his  characteristic  tenderness  overcame 
every  other  feeling,  and  clinging  to  his  eldest 
sister,  he  would  not  allow  her  to  enter  the 
burning  dwelling.  So  the  mother's  silver,  the 
father's  library,  and  nearly  all  the  household 
goods  were  destroyed.  The  sister  wept,  but 
John  and  the  other  children  were  very  cheer- 
ful, when,  at  a  distance,  they  watched  the 
progress  of  the  flames,  and  saw  the  leaves  of 
burning  books  borne  upward  on  the  heated 
currents,  falling  by  and  by  like  silvery  ashes 
all  around.  John  insisted  it  did  not  matter 
much  about  the  property  when  "the  children 
were  all  safe  and  nobody  hurt."  In  the  even- 
ing, when  Mr.  Thom  returned,  he  gathered  his 
family  into  a  room  of  the  "old  mill,"  and  with 
his  boy's  loving  arms  about  his  neck,  he 
thanked  God  that  they  still  had  so  comfortable 
a  home, 
.  In  the  course  of  time  Mr.  Thom  married 


EEV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  21 

again.  His  second  wife  was  a  prudent,  Chris- 
tian woman.  And  although  John  revered  the 
memory  of  his  own  maternal  parent,  he  yielded 
such  respect  and  obedience  to  his  new  mother, 
as  bound  them  together  in  warm  affection 
whilst  life  lasted.  He  would  allow  no  dis- 
paraging remarks  to  be  made  concerning  her. 
To  his  sister,  when  utterino:  some  sentiment 
he  did  not  quite  approve,  lie  would  say,  "Now 
stop,  sister — you  mustn't."  She  was  worthy 
of  his  love,  and  very  beautiful  and  touching 
were  his  tokens  of  remembrance  in  later  years. 
Mr.  Thorn,  who  had  been  engaged  in  manu- 
facturing, subsequently  removed  to  a  pleasant 
farm  which  he  owned,  near  by.  This  change 
gave  full  exercise  to  the  active  mind  of  John, 
who  delighted  in  gathering  in  the  lambs,  tend- 
ing the  cattle,  and  making  himself  useful  in 
many  ways.  An  old  man  once  remarked:  "It 
is  a  great  pity  to  send  that  boy  to  school,  he 
would  make  such  an  excellent  farmer!" 
Whatever  he  did  was  done  with  all  his  mio-ht. 

O 

He  entered  with  great  zest  into  the  innocent 
sports  and  recreations  common  among  boys 


22  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

of  his  age,  and  in  all  his  intercourse  with  his 
companions  lie  manifested  a  spirit  of  rare 
generosity,  and  kind  consideration  for  the 
feelings  of  others.  Thus  he  spent  his  child- 
hood, a  truthful,  loving  boy;  seldom  in  con- 
tact with  the  rough  or  profane,  a  stranger  to 
the  great  world  without,  his  little  stores  of 
knowledge  chiefly  obtained  from  nature,  the 
family  Bible,  and  the  patient  instructions  of 
the  Christian  home. 

On  the  13th  of  June,  1846,  in  the  seven- 
teenth year  of  his  age,  he  was  admitted  to  full 
communion  in  the  church  at  New  Eehoboth, 
in  Clarion  Presbytery,  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  Eev.  James  Montgomery,  in  which 
church  his  father  had  long  been  a  ruling  elder. 
He  does  not  seem  to  have  been  the  subject  of 
any  remarkable  religious  impressions  at  the 
time.  It  is  probable  that  he  was  converted  in 
early  childhood,  if  not  sanctified  from  his 
birth.  There  was  a  gradual  unfolding  of  the 
divine  life  as  he  grew  in  years,  and  at  length 
from  a  sense  of  duty,  attracted  also  by  the 
beauty  of  Immanuel,  he  made  a  public  profes- 


EEV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  23 

sion  of  faith  in  Christ.  Soon  after  this  he 
began  the  study  of  the  Latin  Gramm£^r,  prepa- 
ratory to  a  thorough  literary  course,  reciting 
for  a  time  to  his  pastor,  and  for  this  purpose 
riding  a  distance  of  seven  miles. 

He  was  tenderly  attached  to  his  younger 
sisters,  and  they  regretted  his  daily  absence 
from  home.  One  of  these  he  would  take  with 
him  on  his  horse,  carrying  her  quite  near  to 
the  village,  hiding  her  among  the  bushes  until 
his  return,  she  remaining  quite  contentedly 
with  the  flowers  and  birds  while  he  was  occu- 
pied with  his  recitations.  After  spending 
some  time  with  his  pastor  he  entered  the 
Academy  in  Clarion,  then  under  the  care  of 
Mr.  Robert  Sutton,  afterwards  a  minister  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  This  was  a  happy 
season  to  the  young  student,  and  it  was,  per- 
haps, more  noted  for  the  expansion  of  his 
social  qualities  than  progress  in  studies,  though 
he  ranked  high  in  his  classes.  Still  retaining 
the  simplicity  and  warm  sympathies  of  child- 
hood, he  attracted  his  younger  associates  in 
the    school.      Several    of    these  would   occa- 


24  MEMOIR  OF  THE 

sionally  accompany  him  in  his  brief  visits 
home,  an^  then  had  what.they  called  a  "  grand 
time,"  climbing  the  hills  and  gathering  wild 
flowers,  or  rambling  through  the  bending 
orchard,  and  feasting  on  the  mellow  fruit. 
Then,  too,  he  secured  the  affections  of  young 
men,  some  of  whom  entered  the  ministry 
before  him,  whilst  others  have  joined  him  in 
the  Better  Country. 

Leaving  the  school  in  Clarion,  he  taught  in 
a  district  nearby,  during  the  winter  of  1848-9, 
and  the  following  spring  entered  the  Presby- 
terial    Academy   at   Eldersridge,    which   was 
then,  as  it  is  now,  under  the  superintendence 
of  Rev.  Alex.  Donaldson,  D.  J).     During  his 
connection  with  this   honored  institution   he 
habitually  manifested  a  determination  to  be 
punctual  in  attendance  upon  all  duty,  and  to 
be    thoroughly   prepared   in    every   exercise. 
He  made  rapid  advance  in  his  studies,  and.  was 
considered  one  of  the  most  thorough  students 
that  had  ever  attended  the  Academy.    He  had 
a  strong  will,  and  whilst  he  studiously  avoided 
infringing  upon  the  rights  of  others,  he  reso- 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  25 

lutely  maintained  his  own.  On  one  occasion 
an  altercation  took  place  between  him  and  an 
assistant  teacher.  The  latter  appealed  for 
redress  to  the  principal,  and  demanded  a  pub- 
lic apology  from  the  young  student.  After  a 
careful  investigation  of  the  case,  it  was  discov- 
ered that  the  pupil  was  not  in  fault,  and  he 
gave  evidence  of  so  much  conscientiousness, 
and  dignity  of  character,  as  to  make  a  most 
favorable  impression  on  the  principal,  who  did 
not  even  remotely  hint  at  an  apology  such  as 
had  been  demanded.  Nearly  ten  years  after 
this  occurrence  he  stated  that  at  that  time  he 
began  to  strive  anew  for  the  mastery  over  his 
spirit,  and  his  success  was  most  signal,  for 
there  have  been  but  few  whose  self-control 
and  patience  in  suffering  were  so  great. 

His  health  was  quite  precarious,  and  at  the 
Academy  he  was  deeply  impressed  at  times 
with  the  conviction  that  his  days  would  be 
few.  This  impression  never  entirely  left  him. 
In  his  journal.  May  25th,  1851,  after  referring 
to  a  severe  sickness,  he  asks  for  increase  of 
grace.  "Oh!  that  God  would  give  me  a 
8 


26  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

stronger  faith,  and  preparation  for  my  change. 
Then  would  I  gladly  lie  down  and  be  at  rest, 
for  I  feel  that  my  home  is  not  here." 

lie  highly  appreciated  the  religious  privi- 
leges enjoyed  at  the  Academy,  as  appears  from 
the  following: 

"June  1.  Attended  church.  Heard  two 
very  interesting  discourses  by  Rev.  Alex. 
Donaldson.  Subject  of  the  Lecture  in  the 
morning,  1  Peter  iii.,  from  the  16th  verse  to 
the  close.  In  the  afternoon,  sermon  on  Isaiah 
xlix.  24,  25.  Discussion  singularly  able,  and 
application  peculiarly  solemn.  How  can  we 
remain  cold  under  such  distinguished  means 
of  grace!  Only  the  Spirit  of  God  can  awaken 
us.  In  the  evening  attended  the  students' 
Prayer-meeting;  made  some  remarks  on  the 
causes  of  spiritual  decline,  and  the  means  of 
revival.  The  meeting  appeared  solemn;  but 
few  in  attendance.     O,  God,  revive  thy  work!" 

"June  5.  Unwell.  Pain  in  my  head.  Sister 
M —  is  ill.  May  these  things  teach  us  our 
frailty,  and  stir  us  up  to  make  sure  work  for 
eternity." 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  27 

"June  8.  Feel  better,  but  not  entirely  well. 
Went  to  class  to-day,  but  came  home  before 
the  exercises  were  concluded,  that  I  might  stay 
with  a  sick  friend.  Two  at  his  house  are  quite 
ill.  0,  God,  Thou  art  giving  us  line  upon 
line,  and  precept  upon  precept,  but  still  how 
little  art  Thou  in  all  our  thoughts!" 

"June  19.  Last  evening  attended  prayer- 
meeting.  Several  ministers  present.  Earnest 
and  stirring  appeals  were  made,  particularly 
by  Mr.  Donaldson,  who  spoke  a  few  minutes 
on  the  danger  of  stopping  short  of  entire  sur- 
render to  Jesus,  even  when  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  comes  nigh  to  us.  With  such  appeals, 
if  our  hearts  were  not  harder  than  adamant, 
they  surely  would  melt." 

"Sabbath.  Was  called  upon  to  instruct  a 
class  of  young  ladies;  had  considerable  free- 
dom in  imparting  instruction.  Endeavored  to 
impress  upon  their  minds  the  duty  and  neces- 
sity of  following  Christ.  Was  called  upon  to 
close  the  Sabbath-school  with  prayer;  felt 
some  liberty  in  addressing  the  throne  of 
srrace." 


28  MKMOIK   OF   THE 

Many  similar  extracts  might  be  made.  But 
we  must  content  ourselves  with  one  or  two 
more. 

"June  22.  Went  last  evening  to  see  E — 
T — ,  thought  to  be  in  a  dying  condition.  She 
is  young,  and  surrounded  with  all  the  com- 
forts wealth  can  purchase,  yet  appears  in  a 
delightful  frame  of  mind  in  prospect  of  death  : 
willing  to  go.  Was  much  cheered  by  her 
godly  conversation.  May  she  be  more  and 
more  purified,  and  may  I  be  improved  by  the 
dispensations  of  Providence  witnessed  upon 
others." 

June  23.  Our  Bible-class  did  not  meet  to- 
day, the  teacher  being  absent.  Felt  drowsy 
and  stupid  part  of  the  time,  but  had  some  sea- 
sons of  sweet  communion  with  God.  Attended 
prayer-meeting  this  evening.  Spoke  a  few 
minutes  on  the  evidences  of  growing  coldness 
among  us.  Felt  some  freedom  in  prayer.  Oh! 
may  I  have  more  frequent  and  intimate  com- 
munion with  God,  and  feel  more  earnest  de- 
sires after  holiness." 

During  all  his  stay  at  Eldersridge  he  main- 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  29 

tained  a  consistent  Christian  deportment,  ex- 
erting a  liappy  influence  on  his  fellow-stu- 
dents, encouraging  studiousness,  good  order, 
and  respect  for  religion.  He  was  absent  one 
winter,  teaching  in  the  neighborhood  of  his 
home,  but  completed  his  academic  course  in 
September,  1851,  leaving  Eldersridge  with 
pleasant  memories,  and  much  regret. 


3* 


30  MEMOIR   OF   THE 


CUAPTEE    II. 

STUDENT    AT    JEFFERSON     COLLEGE. 

In  the  autumn  of  1851,  Mr.  Thom  entered 
Jefferson  College,  at  Canonsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania. That  institution  was  then  under  the 
Presidency  of  Eev.  A.  B,  Brown,  D.  D.,  a  suc- 
cessful educator,  an  eloquent  preacher,  and  one 
of  the  most  lovely  Christian  characters  of  his 
day. 

Mr.  Thom  was  admitted  to  the  Junior  Class, 
in  which  he  ranked  among  the  highest,  and  in 
the  Literary  Society  he  had  few,  if  any, 
superiors.  His  much  loved  friend  and  class- 
mate, now  the  Hon.  Thomas  Ewing,  of  the 
Pittsburgh  bar,  gave  the  almost  unanimous 
opinion  of  his  fellow-students  when  he  thus 
wrote  of  Mr.  Thom:  "He  was  industrious, 
energetic,  and  persevering;  a  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  talent  and  intellect.  As  a  com- 
petitor in  a  long,  steady,  mental  strife,  I  would 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  31 

have  considered  him  the  most  dangerous 
opponent  in  our  class.  In  the  annual  contest 
of  1853,  he  represented  his  society  as  essayist, 
and  carried  off  the  honor  from  a  man  who 
then,  and  now,  ranks  high  in  ability."  His 
manner  was  not  at  all  times  pleasing.  Some 
considered  him  haughty  and  proud.  The 
opinion  may  have  been  correct,  but,  in  the 
judgment  of  those  who  knew  him  best,  it  was 
considered  erroneous,  and  the  peculiar  bearing 
which  gave  rise  to  this  misapprehension  was, 
in  later  years,  to  a  considerable  extent  cor- 
rected. Some  enemies  he  had,  but  no  one 
ever  charged  him  with  neglect  of  duty,  or 
with  a  violation  of  any  principle  of  morality, 
or  true  manliness. 

When  he  left  Eldersridge,  that  institution 
and  the  church,  both  under  the  care  of  the 
Eev.  Dr.  Donaldson,  were  enjoying  a  precious 
revival  of  religion.  The  religious  condition 
of  the  college  was  very  different,  and  to  him 
the  contrast  was  painful.  In  his  journal  we 
find  tlie  following  record : 

"September  28th,  1851.     Since  I  last  wrote. 


32  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

my  situation  has  indeed  been  changed.  I 
have  left  a  place  hallowed  by  many  tender 
associations.  But  duty  called,  and  I  closed 
my  career  as  a  student  in  the  academy  for 
ever.  Though  kind  friends  now  extend  to 
me  the  sweet  consolations  of  Christian  sym- 
pathy and  fellowship,  it  is  but  natural  that 
the  heart  should  turn  with  strong  affection  to 
scenes  wrapt  in  the  mists  of  the  past.  But 
shall  I  never  enjoy  similar  pleasures?  never 
again  delight  in  those  beatific  joys  which  can 
only  spring  from  communion  with  pious 
friends,  and  with  God?  or  shall  I  never  feel 
the  gracious  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  drawing 
rne,  with  those  I  love,  to  Him,  and  hear  many 
inquiring  the  way  to  Zion,  weeping  as  they 
go?" 

At  this  time  he  felt  the  need  of  special 
watchfulness,  and  realized  his  dependence 
upon  God.  Former  restraints  were  to  a  great 
extent  removed.  Tender  voices  that  once  bid 
him  stand  fast  in  the  truth,  were  indistinctly 
heard  across  the  space  that  separated  him  from 
the  scenes  of  earlier  years,  and  unlooked  for 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  38 

influences,  unfavorable  to  religious  growth, 
gathered  about  him.  There  is  reason  to  be- 
lieve that  he  lost  much  of  the  ardor  and 
strength  of  Christian  love,  which  had  so 
marked  a  great  deal  of  his  experience  at 
Eldersridge.  This  afterwards  became  a  source 
of  sorrow  and  deep  humiliation.  At  one  time 
he  gives  expression  to  his  anxiety  and  hopes 
in  language  such  as  this :  "  Temptations  of  no 
ordinary  nature  surround  me.  I  have  taken 
another  step  out  into  the  wide  world,  and 
henceforth  the  influence  of  home  will  be  but 
feebly  felt.  If  God  spare  my  life,  my  course 
will  still  be  onward.  How  shall  the  contest 
be  sustained?  I  thank  God  for  the  hope  of 
assistance  through  Jesus  Christ  my  Lord. 
Were  it  not  for  that,  my  expectations  would 
indeed  be  vain.  And  yet  how  cold  is  my 
heart!  How  few  affections  in  heaven!  How 
much  my  thoughts  are  engrossed  with  the 
cares  and  pleasures  of  this  life!  O,  for  a 
closer  walk  with  God !" 

"Sabbath.     Heard  a  sermon  to-day  on  the 
text :  '  We  are  saved  by  hope ;'  in  which  the 


34  MEMOIR    OF   TUE 

speaker  alluded  to  the  duty  of  making  our 
calling  and  election  sure.  When  shall  I  cease 
to  be  harassed  with  doubts?  O  God,  remove 
these  from  my  mind !" 

Several  miscellaneous  extracts  from  his 
journal  may  be  introduced  in  this  connection. 
"Heard  of  the  death  of  a  dear  friend,  the 
mother  of  two  dear  ones  (cousins),  who  are 
now  without  a  parent  on  earth.  O,  were  it 
not  for  the  consolations  of  religion,  how  could 
sucli  bereavements  be  endured?"  One  of 
these  cousins,  Lizzie  Culbertson,  afterwards 
spent  several  years  as  a  missionary  among 
the  Choctaws,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Eev. 
Hunter  Corbett,  who  is  laboring  in  China. 

"October  11.  Spent  the  evening  in  com- 
pany with  some  young  persons  who  were  pre- 
viously strangers.  In  one  of  these  the  Chris- 
tian graces  seemed  to  be  developed  in  an 
extraordinary  degree.  Spent  some  time  in 
interesting,  and  I  hope  profitable,  conversa- 
tion; though,  with  shame  and  sorrow,  I  must 
confess  that  the  greater  part  of  the  interview 
was  characterized  by  forgetful  ness  of  God. 


REV.   JOHN   C.   TIIOM.  85 

"Heard  tliis  evening  of  the  brutal  assault  of 
one  student  upon  another,  and  serious  injury 
inflicted.  O,  when  shall  the  good  hand  of  our 
God  be  upon  us,  to  curb  our  evil  passions,  and 
lead  us  in  the  paths  of  true  holiness! 

"October  12.  Dr.  Brown  being  ill,  there 
were  no  services  in  the  chapel.  Went  to  the 
Methodist  church  for  the  first  time  in  many 
months.  Thought  the  discourse  was  weak, 
yet  it  contained  matter  for  reflection.  May  I 
have  grace  to  improve  it !  Feel  very  deeply 
concerned  for  my  room-mate  who  is,  I  fear, 
far  from  God.  May  I  have  grace  to  cast  some 
influence  around  him  that  shall  be  blest  to  his 
soul.  0,  that  God  would  arouse  him  from  the 
lethargy  of  sin ! 

"October  18.  Some  young  friends  from 
Eldersridge,  whom  I  have  been  expecting, 
came  on  to  the  Female  Seminary  to-day. 
Bereaved  ones!  May  the  arm  of  Omnipo- 
tence be  "underneath  them;  may  his  rod  and 
staff  guide  and  comfort  them,"  Two  of  these 
friends  were  orphaned  cousins,  referred  to  in  a 
previous  extract  from  his  journal.     They  were 


36  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

very  lovely  young  ladies,  and  not  far  from  the 
kingdom.  Through  the  darkness  of  their 
great  sorrow,  God  led  them  into  the  light  of  a 
good  hope  in  Jesus.  One  of  them  is  now  in 
heaven.  A  third  cousin  was  also  an  orphan. 
She  afterwards  married  the  Rev.  W.  S.  Wil- 
son, and  a  few  years  later,  with  a  calm  trust 
in  Jesus,  went  to  the  heavenly  home.  With 
these  orphans  Mr.  Thom  sympathized  with 
the  tenderness  of  a  brother,  and  helped  them 
through  many  a  dark  passage  in  their  seasons 
of  affliction. 

On  the  same  d.iy  he  writes:  "Did  not  see 

Mr.  B .     Felt  very  sorr}'^,  as  he  is  one  of 

the  few  in  this  cold  world  whose  hearts  are 
warm   with    love  to  God   and    man.     In    the 

evening  Mrs.  D handed  me  a  beautifully 

bound  copy  of  the  life  of  Rev.  Robert  Murray 
McCheyne,  with  this  inscription  on  the  blank 
leaf, — 'To  Mr.  J.  C.  Thom;  a  memento  of  obli- 
gation, and  token  of  true  regard,  from  his 
friends,  Alex.  Donaldson  and  John  M.  Barnet, 
Eldersridge,  Pa.,  October  16,  1851.'  0! 
how    unworthv  of  such   a   token  I  feel    mv- 


REV.   .TOITN    C.  THOM.  87 

self  to  bo.  Never  before  did  I  realize  so 
deeply  how  far  short  I  came  of  doing  my  duty 
to  those  men  whose  kindness  to  me  was  very 
distinguished.  And  whilst  I  feel  my  un- 
worthiness  to  receive  this  token  from  men, 
may  I  reflect  how  undeserved  are  the  bless- 
ings of  God,  and  may  I  more  fully  consecrate 
myself  to  his  service,  and  live  to  his  honor 
and  glory."  When  it  is  borne  in  mind  that 
Mr.  Thom  was  quite  young  at  this  time,  and 
had,  with  many  others,  simply  sustained  the 
relation  of  pupil  to  the  friends  who  gave  him 
this  memento  of  affection,  the  high  regard  in 
which  he  was  held  will  be  more  apparent. 

''Oct.  19 — Sabbath.  Read  in  the  Life  of 
McCheyne.  O,  for  the  grace  that  character- 
ized that  young  saint,  so  early  called  home.  .  . 
Heard  Rev.  Mr.  Ewing  preach  an  excellent 
sermon  on  the  text :  "  A  double  minded  man 
is  unstable  in  all  his  ways.'' 

"Dec.    14 — Sabbath.     Have   to   lament,    as 

usual,    my   coldness   and   hardness  of  heart; 

also    a   disposition    to    feel    complacency   on 

account  of  the  performance  of  external  duty. 

4 


38  MEMOIR  OF  THE 

Trust  I  have  in  some  measure  enjoyed  the 
presence  of  God.  Felt  encouraged  and  strength- 
ened by  conversation  with  a  friend  on  some  of 
the  beauties  of  the  Scriptures.  Why  do  we 
not  oftener  speak  together  of  the  things  of 
God?     0,  for  more  grace!" 

About  six  mouths  after  Mr.  Thom  entered 
college,  an  extensive  revival  of  religion  occur- 
red in  the  church  connected  with  the  college, 
and  it  extended  throughout  the  village.  In 
this  work  of  grace  he  was  greatly  interested, 
and  labored  with  much  earnestness  for  the 
conversion  of  his  irreligious  companions. 
Some  of  these  he  visited  in  their  rooms,  with 
others  he  conversed  as  they  walked  by  the 
way.  To  a  few  he  wrote  earnest  appeals  to  be 
reconciled  to  God,  accompanying  the  message 
with  fervent  prayer.  Again  he  rejoiced  in  the 
dawning  evidences  of  piety  in  the  hearts  of 
his  fellow-students,  and  was  himself  elevated 
to  a  higher  life.  From  his  journal  of  March 
21,  1852,  we  extract  the  following  passage: 
"  With  a  full  heart  I  record  what  God  has 
done  for  us.     He  has  again  visited  us  in  mercy 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  39 

and  not  in  wrath,  and  wc  trust  many  have 
been  called  from  darkness  to  Yight.  0!  what  a 
privilege,  to  pass  through  such  scenes,  when 
the  Spirit  descends  with  power,  and  sinners  in 
Zion,  as  well  as  out  of  it,  are  made  to  tremble. 
I  thank  God  that  he  has  permitted  me  to  see 
another  time  of  refreshing  from  his  presence. 
0!  may  it  not  be  for  my  condemnation.  I 
trust  I  feel,  as  I  never  felt  before,  our  entire 
dependence  on  God.  The  work,  0  God,  is 
thine.  I  feel  also,  I  hope,  more  than  ever  the 
value  and  efficacy  of  prayer.  May  I  always 
be  importunate.  I  have  had  some  precious 
evidence  in  the  past  few  weeks  of  the  readiness 
of  God  to  answer  prayer.  I  have  attended 
religious  meetings  for  the  last  three  weeks, 
almost  every  night,  during  which  time  many, 
we  trust,  have  been  called  from  death  to  life. 
...  I  thank  God  for  what  he  has  done  for  us, 
especially  for  the  hopeful  conversion  of  my 
room-mate,  for  whom  I  have  long  prayed. 
May  God  be  ever  with  him,  and  make  him  a 
chosen  vessel  in  his  service." 

He  was  much  concerned  for  his  Sabbath- 


40  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

school  class,  noting,  with  thankfulness  and 
hope,  indications  of  growing  seriousness.  And 
it  was  a  matter  of  rejoicing  to  him,  that  all 
whom  he  made  subjects  of  special  effort  and 
prayer  were  hopefully  converted. 

The  influence  of  that  precious  season  lin- 
gered with  him  throughout  the  remainder  of 
his  entire  course.  But  during  the  last  few 
months  of  his  connection  with  the  college, 
there  were  circumstances  which  diverted  his 
attention  somewhat  from  the  paramount  claims 
of  religion.  The  excitement  of  a  literary  con- 
test, and  the  strife  for  collegiate  honors  which 
culminates  near  the  close  of  a  college  course, 
were  not  without  their  influence  upon  him; 
but  the  diversion  was  only  for  a  season,  and 
his  heart  returned  with  a  warmer  gush,  of 
affection  to  Him  whose  fellowship  is  more  to 
be  desired  than  all  the  world  can  bestow. 

It  was  with  emotions  of  no  ordinary  sorrow 
that  the  young  student  contemplated  his  de- 
parture from  college.  He  had  formed  many 
attachments,  and  it  was  a  sore  trial  to  sunder 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  41 

all  the  ties  that  bound  him  to  the  hill  country, 
and  his  associates  in  enjoyment  and  toil. 

Now  the  great  world  is  before  him.  His 
little  bark  has  been  passing  year  by  year  into 
the  broader  channels  of  life,  and  now  the  wide 
prospect  which  opens  before  him  alternately 
excites  ambition,  and  weighs  down  his  spirit. 
There  were  voices  bidding  him  seek  self- 
aggrandizement,  and  rise  high  in  the  world, 
but  the  still  small  voice  of  the  Spirit  whispered, 
"  Worship  God,  and  rise  to  heaven !" 

"I  find  myself,"  he  writes,  "after  the  usual 
ceremonies,  invested  with  my  degree,  and  am 
what  the  world  calls  'an  educated  man.'  How 
insignificant  it  all  now  appears,  and  how  little 
do  I  now  feel  prepared  for  the  great  duties  of 
life!  But  after  all,  the  preparation  which  is 
most  needed,  is  that  of  the  heart,  which  comes 
from  God  alone.  May  His  grace  be  sufficient 
for  me !" 

About  the  time  of  his  graduation  his  health 
began  to  fail,  and  afflictions  in  his  father's 
family  seemed  to  make  it  necessary  to  modify 


42  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

his  plans,  and  defer  his  entrance  upon  a  course 
of  theological  study.  This  was  a  great  trial. 
The  way  seemed  long  and  dark  before  him, 
but  on  the  threshold  of  a  sad  and  weary 
experience  he  knelt  at  the  footstool  of  his 
unerring  Father,  saying,  "  My  heart,  cease  thy 
wild  throbbings;  look  up  to  God  and  say, 
'  Thy  will  be  done.' "  Then,  with  a  stronger 
faith  in  Him  who  led  Joseph  like  a  flock,  he 
rose,  and  went  calmly  on  his  way. 

There  is  no  part  of  our  Father's  discipline 
which  is  unnecessary.  As  in  the  physical,  so 
in  the  moral  kingdom,  all  the  appointments  of 
God  are  important,  and  subserve  desirable 
ends.  In  the  human  frame  there  is  not  a 
bone,  muscle,  or  nerve,  which  is  useless, — 
without  which  the  body  would  not  lack  some- 
thing of  its  present  symmetry  and  power.  So 
in  every  plant  there  is  not  a  leaf  nor  fibre,  not 
a  cell  nor  fluid,  which  does  not  answer  some 
important  purpose.  In  all  the  range  of 
nature,  in  what  is  great  and  small,  in  all  that 
is  beautiful,  grand,  or  comparatively  insignifi- 


KEV.   JOHN   C.  TIIOM.  43 

cant,  each  element  has  its  uses,  and  all  com- 
bined, form  a  perfect  unity. 

So  it  is  in  the  moral  world.  In  all  Chris- 
tian experience  there  is  no  trial,  disappoint- 
ment, or  suffering  which  is  not  necessary. 
AVithout  affliction  the  spiritual  nature  would 
not  attam  to  that  fulness  and  beauty  which 
God  designs;  without  it  the  Christian  would 
not  be  fitted  for  that  particular  sphere  in 
heaven  which  God  would  have  him  occupy. 
"It  is  for  your  profit,"  is  the  voice  of  the  rod, 
and  faith  responds,  "It  is  the  Lord,  let  Him  do 
what  seemeth  Him  good." 

Mr.  Thorn's  life  was  one  of  no  ordinary 
affliction.  His  sensitive  nature  was  peculiarly 
susceptible  to  suffering.  His  strong  attach- 
ments to  his  family  and  friends  made  him  a 
constant  bearer  of  their  sorrows.  The  heavy 
pecuniary  losses  sustained  by  his  father, 
severe  trials  in  which  the  family  became 
involved,  and  his  own  ill  health,  accompanied 
with  alarming  symptoms,  which  made  it 
doubtful  whether  he  would  ever  be  able  to 


44  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

fulfil  the  cherished  plans  of  his  life — all  these 
weighed  heavily  upon  him.  He  seldom  spoke 
of  domestic  and  personal  afflictions  to  any 
outside  of  the  little  home  circle,  but  bore  them 
with  all  the  patience  he  could  command,  and 
resolutely  addressed  himself  to  the  duty  which 
God  assigned.  At  times  his  cross  seemed 
too  heavy,  and  his  submission  failed.  Hard 
thoughts  of  God  would  now  and  then  intrude, 
and  he  would  drift  away  from  his  anchorage. 
A  feeling  of  resentment  toward  those  who  had 
wronged  him  and  his,  would  gain  the  ascend- 
ency, and  many  a  hard  contest  was  waged  on 
the  silent  battle-field  of  his  soul,  of  which  only 
his  nearest  friends  knew  anything,  and  they 
but  in  part. 

But  his  afflictions  were  for  his  good.  He 
felt  that  they  were  necessary,  and  his  friends 
discerned  more  readily  than  himself  the  good 
resulting  from  them.  He  grew  in  the  graces 
of  the  Spirit.  Humility  was  deepened,  faith 
was  strengthened,  and  the  tender  sympathies 
of  his  nature,  which  so  distinguished  him, 
were  gradually  unfolded. 


KEY.   JOHN   0.   THOM.  46 

"Is  this  the  way,  my  Father '/—'Tis,  my  child, 
Thou  must  pass  through  the  tangled,  dreary  wild. 
If  thou  wouldst  reach  the  city  undcfiled,— 
Thy  peaceful  home  above. 

"0  Father,  I'm  weary !— Child,  lean  thy  head 
Upon  my  breast;  it  was  my  love  that  spread 
Thy  rugged  path;  hope  on  still,  till  I  have  said, 
'  Rest, — rest  for  aye  above.'  " 

There  is  beauty  and  plaintiveness  in  a 
paragraph  which  we  here  transcribe  from  the 
journal.  "The  sweet  breath  of  summer  fans 
my  aching  brow.  The  mocking  bird  and 
robin  praise  the  Giver  of  their  being  with  all 
the  glad  exhilaration  of  life  unknown  to  care. 
Bright,  blessed  beings,  they  flutter  out  their 
inch  of  life,  and  are  seen  no  more!  No 
shadows  come  across  their  unruffled  happi- 
ness, and  the  dreams  that  vex  man's  troubled 
being  come  not  to  them.  How  then  are  we 
so  much  better  than  they?  God  cares  for 
them  as  for  us.  'One  of  them  shall  not  fall 
on  the  ground  without  your  Father.'  No 
stain  of  sin  destroys  the  lustre  of  their  beauty, 
or  the  melody  of  their  songs.     No  forebodings 


46  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

of  an  unknown  evil  disturbs  their  rest.  In 
happy  unconsciousness  they  sing,  and  love, 
and  die!  But  we  voyagers  on  a  gloomy  river 
that  leads  to  an  unknown  sea,  are  tortured 
with  spectres  of  the  past,  and  frightened  with 
visions  of  the  future.  From  whence,  and  what 
are  we;  and  whither  are  we  borne?  Through 
what  unknown  and  untried  changes  must  we 
pass,  and  where  is  the  goal?  Will  endless 
cycles  roll  away  and  find  us  still  the  same 
sentient  and  imperfect  beings,  without  the  key 
to  unlock  the  mysteries  of  our  being,  and 
with  feeling  enough  to  be  conscious  of  our 
impotence?  or  shall  we  at  last  sink  into 
happy  unconsciousness  of  our  littleness,  and 
cease  to  beat  the  bars  of  our  cage  because 
they  are  contracted  till  they  allow  no  room  to 
flutter  or  to  feel  ?  Can  we  be  happy  in  igno- 
rance of  all  the  future  while  our  restless, 
inquiring  minds  remain?  Could  we  endure 
the  eternal  routine  of  any  life,  if  spread  out 
before  us  for  our  contemplation? 

"The  sun  rises  hii^her.     The  mornino;  carol 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  47 

is  over.  The  dreams  of  youth  yield  to  the 
reflection  of  manhood,  and  the  rhapsodies  of 
philosophy  to  the  simplicity  of  faith.  Like 
an  opium  eater's  dream,  our  troubled  exist- 
ence here  will  soon  be  over.  'After  life's 
■fitful  fever  we  shall  sleep  well,'  if  the  hand  of 
our  Father  arrange  the  pillow  for  our  head. 
And  where  now  is  my  hope?  'In  hoc 
vinces.'  "     (By  this  thou  shalt  conquer.) 


48  MEMOIR   OF   THE 


CHAPTER    III. 

TEACHES    AT    ELDERSRIDGE,    PEXNSYI.VANIA, 

After  graduating  with  honor,  in  August, 
1853,  Mr,  Thorn  left  Canonsburg,  and  imme- 
diately returned  to  Eldersridge,  as  assistant 
teacher  in  the  Presbyterial  Academy.  This 
position  he  held  for  two  years,  faithful  to 
duty,  highly  esteemed  and  much  beloved  by 
the  Principal,  the  students,  and  the  people 
generally. 

He  was  active  in  every  good  work.  He  did 
not  confine  himself  to  the  labors  of  the  aca- 
demy, but  rendered  valuable  aid  to  the  pastor 
of  the  church,  and  devoted  himself  to  the 
interests  of  the  community  in  which  his  lot 
was  cast. 

Near  the  close  of  the  first  year  of  his  tutor- 
ship, typhoid  fever  prevailed  as  an  epidemic 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Eldersridge^  and  whilst 


REV.    JOHN   C,   THOM.  49 

many  were  unwilling  to  administer  to  the 
necessities  of  the  sick  and  dying,  he  visited 
them  promptly,  unhesitatingly'  doing  what  he 
could  to  alleviate  suffering.  His  patient  atten- 
tions and  pious  counsels  did  much  to  facilitate 
recovery  in  those  who  survived,  and  to  light 
up  the  dark  valley  to  such  as  were  called  to 
pass  through  it. 

"It  is  less  than  one  little  week,"  he  writes 
to  a  friend,  "since  I  last  addressed  you,  and 
yet  what  a  world  of  events  have  been  crowded 
into  those  few  days.  Two  more  have  gone  to 
swell  the  pale  host!     When  I  wrote  you  last 

I  was   sitting   at   the   bedside  of  Mr.  B , 

After  watching  till  morning,  I  rode  to  Saltz- 
burg,  (a  village  seven  miles  distant,)  for  medi- 
cine, and  on  my  way  back  met  a  rider  who 
told  me  to  hasten  my  return.  When  I  en- 
tered Mr.  B's  room  I  found  him  apparently 
dying.  I  was  weary  with  watching,  but  I 
could  get  no  one  to  take  my  place,  and 
through  the  whole  day  I  sat,  and  marked  the 
life-tide  ebbing  away.  In  the  evening  he  died. 
With  my  own  hands  I  composed  his  stiffening 
5 


50  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

limbs  for  tlieir  last  resting-place,  arranged 
upon  Lis  already  decomposing  body  the 
habiliments  of  the  grave,  assisted  in  bearing 
him  to  the  burial-ground,  lowered  his  remains 
into  their  narrow  home,  and  heaped  his 
kindred  dust  upon  him." 

Then   others   required   attention,  and  soon 

intelligence   comes   that   Mrs.  I is   dead. 

He  went  to  the  designated  place.  There  he 
found  a  man  or  two  of  the  neighborhood,  but 
no  female,  except  the  grey-headed  mother  of 
the  deceased,  alone  with  her  dead.  In  an 
adjoining  room  the  husband,  prostrated  with 
the  epidemic  fever,  just  learning  of  his  wife's 
death,  was  weeping  aloud.  Mr.  Thom  bathed 
the  head  of  the  sufferer,  and  soothed  him  as 
best  he  could.  But  there  were  other  calls,  and 
this  faithful  nurse  must  answer  them.  He  left 
the  house  quietly,  and  walked  sadly  away — 
above  him  the  broad  arch  of  heaven,  with  its 
beautiful  stars,  and  masses  of  thick,  black 
clouds  rollinor  alousr  on  the  nio-ht  wind. 

Again  he  writes  from  the  couch  of  a  fever 
patient:    "You  speak  of  Mr.  S 's  sermon, 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  51 

and  wish  I  had  heard  it.  I  wish  so,  too,  for  I 
need  my  languishing  graces  revived.  But  I 
have  had  preaching  of  the  most  solemn  and 
impressive  kind.  The  skeleton  preacher  has 
been  speaking — how  eloquently!  of  the  world 
to  come.  He  who  can  look  with  stolid  indif- 
ference upon  a  fellow-being,  making  his 
trembling  approach  to  the  bar  of  God,  would 
probably  not  be  moved  by  mortal  oratory. 
I  trust  I  have  not  listened  altogether  in  vain. 
But  alas!  how  much  there  is  to  be  done!  I 
am  amazed  at  the  hardness  of  my  heart,  and 
mourn  that  I  have  no  more  of  the  Spirit  of 
Christ. 

"Earthly  ties  are  broken:  earthly  friends 
go  to  their  long  home.  Here,  indeed,  the 
mourners  go  about  the  streets.  Sorrow  and 
sighing  are  our  heritage.  But  there  is  an 
eternal  citizenship  in  heaven;  an  immortality 
in  the  family  of  God.  There,  a  Father's  arm 
around  us,  a  Father's  hand  shall  wipe  away 
all  tears  from  all  faces.  O,  let  us  go  to  Him 
with  hearts  overflowins;  with  love! 

"The  epidemic  seems  to  be  abating,  but  we 


52  MEMOm   OF   THE 

thought  SO  once  before.  We  are  in  the  hands 
of  the  Lord.  Let  Him  do  what  seemeth  good 
in  Ilis  sight." 

The  panic  occasioned  by  this  single  out- 
break of  disease  greatly  reduced  the  number 
of  students.  It  would  have  been  to  Mr. 
Thorn's  interest  to  have  accepted  any  of  the 
calls  by  which  he  was  urged  to  go  into  a 
much  more  lucrative  connection  with  other 
schools.  But  out  of  sympathy  with  the  aca- 
demy in  its  troubles,  he  remained  a  year 
longer,  aiding  much  in  recruiting  its  numbers, 
and  in  establishing  its  reputation  for  thorough 
instruction. 

This  is  only  one  of  many  incidents  which 
might  be  cited,  of  what  he  was  willing  to 
sacrifice  for  the  good  of  others,  and  the  cause 
of  Christ.  And  yet  he  guarded  against  an 
over-estimate  of  his  labors  and  self-denials. 
He  continued  at  his  post  "in  weakness, 
anxiety,  and  frequent  depression,  lamenting, 
with  shame  and  confusion  of  face,  unfaithful- 
ness to  the  students  and  to  God." 

At  one  period  he  complains  of  great  cold- 


KEV.   JOHN   C.  THOM.  63 

ness:  "I  do  not  know  that  I  ever  endured  so 
long  a  season  of  spiritual  depression.  Now, 
indeed,  God  seems  to  be  coming  near,  and 
offering  to  be  gracious." 

Writing  to  one  of  his  regular  correspondents 
just  before  a  communion  Sabbath,  he  says: 
"I  had  a  letter  to-day  from  a  dear  friend  of 
former  days,  asking,  in  the  most  earnest 
manner,  how  to  become  a  Christian.  I  think 
I  never  felt  so  much  as  now  the  weakness  of 
man,  and  the  awful  responsibility  resting  on 
the  professing  Christian.  May  God  give  me 
wisdom!  Eev.  Mr.  McElwain  came  to-day, 
and  preached  two  most  searching  sermons. 
He  talks  to  men  as  if  he  meant  to  be  under- 
stood." 

"Monday.  Communion  is  now  over.  It 
was  a  sweet  and  solemn  time.  I  hope  there 
are  good  things  in  store  for  us.  Surely  the 
Lord  hath  spoken  good  concerning  Israel.  O, 
that  we  were  able  to  get  nearer  to  God !" 

Not  long  after,  he  mentions  an  interesting 
fact:  "Meetings  for  prayer  and  conference 
have  been  held  in  my  room  every  night  for  the 
5* 


54  MEMOIR  OF   THE 

last  week,  but  O,  bow  dead  Ave  are !  Spirit  of 
the  living  God,  come  and  breatlie  upon  these 
dry  bones,  and  they  shall  live!'' 

It  was  not  loufT  until  God  heard  the  cries  of 
his  people,  and  again  opened  windows  in  hea- 
ven over  an  institution  and  church  which  have 
been  often  and  remarkably  blessed,  with  "sea- 
sons of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the 
Lord." 

The  pastor  labored  with  great  earnestness, 
sustained  by  the  prayers  and  cooperation  of 
believers,  and  rejoiced  in  the  precious  harvest 
of  souls.  Mr.  Thorn  spent  days  in  fasting,  and 
nights  in  prayer,  whilst  attending  to  his  oner- 
ous duties  in  the  Academy,  and  riding  to 
Lebanon  (four  miles  distant)  to  conduct  an 
evening  prayer-meeting. 

He  also  addressed  letters  to  unconverted 
friends,  urging  them  to  come  to  Jesus,  and  to 
come  without  delay.  Thus  he  writes  to  one: 
"Will  you  be  angry  with  me  for  addressing 
you  this  morning  in  the  name  of  God?  Will 
you  despise  the  message,  because  brought  by 
one  sold  under  sin?     I  am  concerned  for  your 


REV.  JOHN   C.   THOM  55 

soul.  Another  time  of  solemn  interest  is  pass- 
ing, and  faith  almost  fails."  Then,  with  a 
peculiar  sweetness,  and  touching  references  to 
the  personal  history  of  his  unconverted  friend, 
he  pleads  for  Jesus  and  xoith  Him,  that  unbe- 
lief may  be  laid  down  at  the  foot  of  the  cross. 

Then,  too,  he  found  time  to  write  or  speak 
encouragingly  to  God's  people,  urging  them  to 
plead  for  the  conversion  of  their  friends,  "for 
His  own  name's  sake,"  and  when  praying  for 
their  children,  he  reminded  Him  of  His  cove- 
nant. To  one  who  mourned  the  death  of  a 
father  he  found  time  to  address  words  of  com- 
fort, and  the  letter  is  so  characteristic  that  we 
insert  it  here.  "  I  am  becoming  familiar  with 
scenes  of  death — the  countenance  ghastly  and 
livid — the  body  cadaverous  and  ulcerated — 
the  eye  now  wandering  with  vacant  look,  and 
now  lit  up  with  unwonted  fire — the  limbs  stif- 
fening for  their  last  repose — the  breath  coming 
in  short  and  painful  gasps — the  death  rattle, 
the  quivering  flesh,  the  solemn  stillness  that 
tells  all  is  over — the  wail  of  the  bereaved  as 
the  feelings  so  long  struuo-  to  their  utmost  ten- 


66  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

sioa  suddenly  relax,  and  the  cold  iron  of  des- 
pair enters  the  soul!  Ah!  I  see  it  all.  But 
no  death  scene  is  more  vividly  before  me  than 
that  which  I  never  saw,  except  through  the 
medium  of  your  bereaved  and  wounded  heart. 
It  may  seem  unkind  to  call  up,  and  dwell 
upon,  a  topic  fraught  with  such  painful  memo- 
ries. I  think  otherwise.  Sad  as  those  memo- 
ries are,  there  is  pleasure  in  them  still.  It  is 
sweet  to  think  of  the  love  we  have  enjoyed, 
though  it  be  lost  to  us  for  ever.  It  is  pleasant 
to  meditate  upon  the  infinite  gain  of  our  dear 
departed,  though  it  cost  us  bitter,  burning 
tears.  It  is  elevating  and  purifying  to  realize 
that  we  have  an  earthly  link  binding  us  to  the 
world  of  spirits,  another  dear  one  in  our 
Father's  house.  And  apart  from  all  this,  it  is 
good  sometimes  to  meditate  upon  the  awful 
circumstances  of  dissolution,  and  the  still  more 
stupendous  realities  which  ensue.  It  assists 
us  to  number  our  days,  that  we  may  apply  our 
hearts  to  wisdom." 

But  we  cannot  tarry  here.     Much  might  be 
written  of  his  faithfulness  in  his  relations  to 


REV.   JOHN   C.  THOM.  57 

the  Academy,  and  the  people  with  whom  he 
associated  in  acts  of  worship  and  the  pleasant 
amenities  of  social  life.  From  what  has  already 
been  noted,  we  learn  the  secrets  of  his  power. 
It  was  no  wonder  that  his  influence  over  the 
students  was  great,  and  that  the  events  of  those 
two  years,  and  especially  those  months  of  tri- 
bulation and  subsequent  revival,  are  remem- 
bered with  emotions  of  mingled  sorrow  and 
gratitude  by  many  to  whom  he  ministered, 
who  are  now  scattered  over  half  a  continent. 


63  MEMOIR   OF  THE 


CHAPTEK  IV. 

TEACHER    IN    NATCHEZ,    MISSISSIPPI. 

After  teaching  two  years  at  Eldersridge,  a 
dear  friend  who  was  engaged  in  the  same 
vocation  in  Natchez,  Mississippi,  earnestly 
solicited  him  to  remove  to  that  city,  which, 
after  much  thought  and  prayer,  he  consented 
to  do.  Having  devoted  the  most  of  the  pro- 
ceeds of  his  labors  to  his  now  dependent 
friends — his  father  having  lost  an  arm,  and 
being  otherwise  afflicted — and  it  being  imprac- 
ticable for  him  to  enter  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary, which  he  so  much  longed  to  do,  he  felt 
that  duty  called  him  to  a  field  of  labor  where 
his  pecuniary  remuneration  would  be  larger, 
and  he  might  discharge  at  once  the  obligations 
of  filial  duty,  and  secure  the  means  to  continue 
his  studies  with  reference  to  the  ministry. 
Then,  thougli  the   tender   attachment  of  his 


EEV.   JOHN   C.   TDOM.  59 

friends  led  them  to  put  every  possible  barrier 
in  his  way,  and  his  naturally  affectionate  tem- 
perament made  it  hard  for  him  to  go,  yet  he 
broke  away  from  all  the  ties  of  home  and 
endeared  friendship,  and  with  "his  whole  being 
quivering  with  intense  feeling"  went  forth  to 
do,  80  far  as  he  could,  the  work  to  which  he 
felt  God  had  called  him. 

On  his  journey  southward  he  saw  much  to 
interest  him,  and  discovered  beauty  where 
others  looked  for  it  in  vain.  Passing  down 
the  dull  channel  of  the  Mississippi  he  was 
charmed  with  the  scenery  along  the  route. 
The  broad  river,  the  beautiful  islands,  the 
autumn-tinted  foliage,  famished  entertainment, 
and  suggested  pleasant  thoughts  of  Him  who 
spread  the  "beautiful  earth  abroad," 

His  entrance  into  Natchez  made  a  pleasant 
impression  on  his  mind,  and  was  long  after 
recalled  as  one  of  the  fairest  pictures  which 
memory  had  preserved.  He  enjoyed  the  ride 
through  groves  of  honey-locusts,  and  magno- 
lias, and  yellow  poplar,  festooned  with  hanging 
moss,  and  wreathed  with  grape  and  muscatine 


60  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

vines,  and  through  gardens  adorned  with 
banana  and  palm  trees,  growing  with  a  luxu- 
riance of  which  our  northern  imaginations  can 
scarcely  form  a  conception.  "The  situation  of 
upper  Natchez,"  he  writes,  "is  exceedingly 
beautiful.  It  seems  to  me  like  a  fairy  land, 
even  yet,  in  September,  all  blooming  with 
roses.  The  streets  are  wide  and  shady,  the 
grounds  adorned  with  art  and  nature  in  per- 
fection blended ;  the  air  is  soft  and  fragrant; 
'the  tree  top't  mounds  with  spiral  pathways, 
fringed  with  flowers ;'  the  curiously  trimmed 
evergreens,  the  orange  groves  and  magnolias, 
the  juicy  pomegranates  and  blooming  hedges, 
the  park  and  the  broad  smooth  river, — all 
unite  in  making  this  a  place  of  wondrous 
beauty." 

Though  young,  enthusiastic,  and  of  a  poeti- 
cal turn  of  mind,  he  was  no  visionary.  He 
entered  with  zeal  upon  the  most  practical 
duties,  and  was  as  persevering  as  he  was  dili- 
gent. He  was  engaged  in  the  City  Institute  as 
principal  of  the  senior  department,  also  in  a 
Female  Seminary,   and   elsewhere;   teaching. 


REV.   .TOHX   C.   THOM.  61 

much  of  the  time,  nine  hours  and  a  half  a  day. 
In  the  Institute  he  taught  Latin,  Greek,  and 
the  higher  Mathematics,  and  during  the  two 
years  of  his  connection  with  the  school  he  was 
absent  from  his  duties  but  one  day.  Though 
his  labors  as  instructor  were  very  great,  yet  he 
was  so  methodical  that  he  found  time  for  mis- 
cellaneous reading,  theological  studies,  writing, 
and  social  visiting,  not  neglecting  any  reli- 
gious duty.  He  very  soon  formed  a  large  cir- 
cle of  acquaintances,  who  did  whatever  could 
be  done  to  make  his  sojourn  pleasant. 

Though  he  had  many  religious  advantages 
in  Natchez,  yet  he  was  peculiarly  exposed  to 
temptation,  and  associated  with  evil;  but  he 
maintained  his  Christian  integrity — stood  fast 
in  the  Lord.  One  who  knew  him  intimately, 
a  man  of  much  intelligence,  discernment,  and 
piety,  says  of  him:  "From  my  first  acquaint- 
ance with  Mr.  Thorn,  his  religion  was  un- 
doubted. Of  it  he  made  no  ostentatious  dis- 
play, but  it  manifested  its  controlling  influence 
over  him  on  all  occasions — in  all  circum- 
6 


62  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

stances.     I  never  knew  a  more  uniformly  con- 
sistent Christian." 

Not  long  after  he  commenced  his  labors  in 
Natchez,  the  city  was  visited  with  that  most 
dreadful  of  southern  epidemics,  the  yellow 
fever.  There  was  great  consternation  among 
the  people  generally.  Strangers  were  more 
alarmed  than  the  citizens,  for  they  were  in 
greater  danger.  With  the  other  northern 
teachers,  Mr.  Thom  was  sent  into  the  country, 
where  it  was  supposed  they  would  be  com- 
paratively safe.  They  were  most  kindly 
received  to  the  home  of  an  estimable  widow 
lady,  and  remained  tliere  six  weeks.  Here 
Mr.  Thom  and  his  companions  passed  their 
time  very  happily,  though  soberly,  as  the 
epidemic  passed  around  them.  Their  friend- 
ship grew  stronger  as  the  weeks  advanced, 
and  they  drew  nearer  to  God,  whose  protect- 
ing hand  kept  them  from  the  "  noisome  pes- 
tilence." 

Speaking  of  his  isolation,  and  occasional 
loneliness,  he  writes:  "My  port-folio  is  my 
relipf  in    depression.     Thinking   is    my   only 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  63 

relief  from  thought,  and  I  never  can  think  so 
obliviously  as  when  I  have  pen  and  paper 
before  me.  I  do  not  feel  alarmed — not  the 
least.  I  am  in  the  hands  of  that  God  who  has 
led  me  hitherto,  and  who,  I  am  fully  per- 
suaded, will  take  care  of  me  in  the  future.  I 
never  could  say  more  truly  than  at  this 
moment,  'Let  Him  do  with  me  as  seemeth 
Him  good.'  " 

At  a  later  period:  "I  think  now  that  we 
are  perfectly  safe  in  the  country,  even  if  a  fow 
more  cases  should  occur  in  the  city.  And, 
indeed,  the  mercy  of  God  has  been  very 
specially  manifested  to  us,  for  this  is  the  only 
house  in  the  neighborhood  I  know  of,  which 
has  entirely  escaped.  And  although  I  felt 
secure  all  the  time,  now  I  know  there  was  but 
a  step  between  me  and  death.  Doubtless 
dear  ones  prayed  for  me,  that  the  good  hand 
of  the  Lord  might  be  upon  me." 

He  spoke  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  Chris- 
tian hospitality,  and  the  motherly  kindness  of 
the  lady  who  had  so  promptly  received  him. 


64  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

■witli  others,  to  her  palatial  residence,  and  said, 
"this  house  seems  a  'Bethel.'  " 

"I  am  not  superstitious,"  he  writes,  "but  I 
cannot  help  feeling  sometimes  that  the  mind 
looks  forward,  and  takes  its  tone  from  the 
future.  Especially  did  I  think  of  this  when  I 
saw  men  around  me,  with  no  more  liklihood 
of  sickness  than  I,  making  their  wills,  and 
settling  their  business,  preparatory  to  setting 
out  to  the  undiscovered  country.  But  I  never 
felt  any  anxiety.  I  never  could  feel  that  I 
was  in  danger." 

"When  the  pestilence  had  passed  by,  Mr. 
Thorn  returned  to  the  city,  and  resumed  his 
duties  in  the  Institute  and  Seminary.  Teach- 
ing all  day  prepared  him  to  enjoy  the  evening 
air,  ladened  with  fragrance,  sweeping  up 
fresh  and  cool  from  the  broad  waters.  The 
pleasant  walks  along  the  blufis,  and  about  the 
spacious  gardens,  would  have  lured  out  one 
more  sedentary.  Sometimes  he  watched  with 
the  sick.  Occasionally  he  met  with  a  Literary 
Society,  and  now  and  then  he  turned  aside,  in 
his  twilight  rambles,  to  listen  to  the  apparently 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  65 

earnest  devotions  of  the  colored  people  who 
met,  from  time  to  time,  to  worship  God  in 
their  untutored  way. 

He  had  a  happy  faculty  of  talking  with 
young  persons  on  religious  subjects.  Several 
of  his  pupils  came  to  him  with  burdened 
hearts,  asking  for  his  counsel  and  prayers. 
Young  hearts  were  laid  bare  to  him  in  sorrow 
and  contrition,  which  had  been  judged 
harshly  by  the  world,  but  were  susceptible  of 
deep  impressions  from  Divine  truth,  and  were 
turning  toward  the  cross.  One  day  there 
came  to  him  a  lad,  noted  among  his  com- 
panions for  a  reckless  way,  that  left  the  im- 
pression that  he  was  peculiarly  depraved. 
But  as  he  talked  to  his  teacher  of  his  hopes 
and  fears;  of  his  mother  whose  home,  now  in 
heaven,  he  wished  to  share;  of  his  tender 
remembrance  of  her  care  and  her  prayers,  Mr. 
Thorn  felt  hopeful,  and  encouraged  him  to 
follow  on  to  seek  the  Lord.  Afterward,  the 
young  wanderer  seemed  to  enter  the  way  of 
life,  and  invoked  blessings  on  the  head  of  him 
who  helped  him  in  his  search  for  Jesus. 


66  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  year  ia 
Natchez,  he  wrote  thus  in  his  diary:  "August 
30,  1856.  One  year  of  southern  life  is  ended. 
Through  all  the  dangers  of  a  journey  of  many 
hundred  miles,  and  the  more  alarming  dan- 
gers of  a  fearful  epidemic,  Thy  protection,  O 
God,  has  been  over  me;  and,  sinful  as  I  am,  I 
trust  a  small  measure  of  Thy  grace  is  in  my 
heart.  I  have  suffered,  but  not  as  I  deserved. 
I  have  been  chastened,  but  gently.  Enable 
me  to  record  Thy  goodness,  and  to  adorn 
my  Christian  profession,  not  only  here,  but 
through  my  whole  life. 

"And  now  I  am  about  to  enter  upon  the 
arduous  labors  of  another  year.  Do  Thou 
help  me.  Aid  me  in  my  preparations  for  the 
gospel  ministry,  and  give  me  grace  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  of  that  high  calling,  or  keep 
me  from  profaning  it.  May  God  in  mercy 
watch  over  me.  I  have  no  strength  but  His. 
May  the  blessing  of  God  rest  upon  this  house- 
hold— (Mrs.  North's.)  May  they  never  have 
occasion  to  regret  their  kindness  to  mc,  and 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  67 

may  I  prove  a  blessing  to  them,  and  the 
interesting  pupils  under  my  care." 

Near  the  close  of  his  second  year,  he  an- 
nounced his  determination  to  return  north, 
and  devote  all  his  time  to  preparation  for  the 
ministry.  Many  and  strenuous  efforts  were 
made,  with  the  view  of  inducing  him  to 
change  his  purpose.  A  large  increase  of 
salary  was  proposed.  Parents  and  pupils 
besought  him  to  stay.  But  he  felt  conscien- 
tiously constrained  to  adhere  to  his  original 
plans. 

Before  leaving  Natchez  he  received  many 
pleasant  tokens  of  affection,  and  expressions  of 
gratitude  for  his  labors.  The  lady  in  whose 
family  he  taught  a  portion  of  every  day,  was 
accustomed  to  call  him  her  "child,"  and  when 
he  referred  to  his  great  indebtedness  to  her 
for  her  sympathy,  and  tender  care  of  the 
stranger,  she  told  him  she  was  abundantly 
recompensed  for  it  already,  and  that  if  it 
should  ever  be  her  privilege  to  hear  him 
preach  sweet  messages  of  salvation,  she  would 
be  recompensed  a  thousand-fold   for   all   her 


68  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

care.  On  New-Year's  day  she  presented  him 
with  a  beautiful  gold  watch.  He  wrote  an 
acknowledgment  which  deeply  moved  the 
feelings  of  the  kind  lady,  and  she  replied  in 
the  following  unique  letter:  "To  prepare  a 
New-Year's  gift  for  you,  my  child,  seems 
nothing  strange  to  me,  nor  took  a  thought 
from  my  occupations.  But  your  note!  I 
have  tried  to  read  it  without  shedding  tears, 
but  each  time  I  weep  the  same.  I  did  not 
want  you  to  think  so  much  about  it.  "Well, 
never  mind,  my  child,  some  of  these  da3^s  you 
will  graduate  at  the  Seminary.  You  will  soon 
stand  in  the  sanctuary.  Old  and  young  will 
turn  rapt  faces  to  yours,  as  if  they  were  look- 
ing up  to  heaven.  You  will  point  to  the 
downward  path  that  all  most  follow,  and 
mingle  dust  with  the  dust  of  ages.  You  will 
then  turn,  beautifully  and  eloquently,  to  the 
new  generation,  and  the  life  of  the  Spirit 
above,  eternally  with  the  Father  of  all.  They 
will  listen,  and  in  their  hearts  all  will  call  you 
blessed.  By-and-by  an  old  lady,  journeying 
eastward,    will    stop   at   your    'village,'    and 


REV.    JOHN    C.   THOM.  69 

attend  church.  She  seats  herself;  wipes  her 
glasses;  adjusts  the  focus;  surveys  the  church 
and  people.  The  pastor  rises.  Lo!  it  is  her 
own  child.  She  suppresses,  for  some  time, 
her  emotions,  but  nature  finally  breaks  away 
in  a  great  sob.  The  people  stare  at  the  lady. 
The  minister  looks  at  the  time,  and  perceives 
it  is  the  precise  time  of  the  '  Old  Lady's  Eecom- 
pense.' 

'Dost  like  the  picture.'  " 

But  time  passes.  Tender  ties  must  be  sun- 
dered. Sad  farewells  must  be  spoken.  With 
all  the  intoxication  of  success,  all  the  flatteries 
of  a  highly  appreciative  people,  all  the  ten- 
derness of  new  friendships  to  detain  him,  he 
turned  his  back  upon  the  south,  his  face 
towards  the  scenes  of  his  childhood,  and  almost 
with  a  shout,  with  a  fulness  of  feeling  that 
few  natures  can  appreciate,  he  hastened  to  his 
far  off  home,  and  toward  the  fulfilment  of  the 
cherished  purpose  of  his  life. 


70  MEMOIR   OF   THE 


CHAPTER  V. 

E  X  T  R  A  (;  T  S      F  R  O  >t      JOURNAL. 

In  his  journal,  kept  at  Natchez,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  record  of  current  events,  he  fre- 
quently expanded  some  thought  suggested  by 
his  reading,  or  the  occurrences  of  the  day. 
Many  of  these  efl'usions,  though  hastily  writ- 
ten, are  worthy  of  preservation.  They  indi- 
cate an  amount  of  general  information  unusual 
in  so  young  a  man,  and  give  us  an  insight  into 
the  inner  life  of  the  writer.  Without  further 
introduction  we  will  here  insert  a  few  selec- 
tions from  these  "Notes  by  the  Way." 

"February  15.  The  church  bells  peal  the 
hour  of  worship.  Sweetly  solemn,  their  min- 
gled voices  fall  on  the  stillness  of  the  Sabbath, 
telling  us  that  our  merciful  Father  has  brought 
us  safely  through  another  week,  and  now  calls 
upon  us  to  offer  up  our  sacrifice  of  praise  for 
His  goodness;    telling  us,  too,   that  we  poor 


REV.   JOHN    C.   THOM.  71 

pilgrims  here  are  not  orphans  also,  tossed  upon 
this  troul)led  scene  without  a  guardian  or  a 
guide,  but  the  great  ear  is  open  to  our  cry,  and 
the  eye  of  infinite  compassion  looks  upon  us; 
telling  us  that  there  is  still  a  link  between  us 
and  the  great  world  above,  and  leading  us 
away  from  the  sordid  pursuits  of  this  fleeting 
existence  towards  the  great  future;  speaking 
of  that  most  sublime  circumstance,  'man  in 
audience  with  the  Deity.'  But  there  is  a  tone 
of  sadness  in  them  too.  Coming  upon  the 
breath  of  morning,  they  sound  mournfully; 
like  a  funeral  knell  they  speak  of  the  grave, 
and  all  its  melancholy  associations ;  they  speak 
of  the  loved  and  lost,  with  whom  we  took 
sweet  counsel  and  walked  to  the  house  of  God. 
But  most  of  all,  they  speak  of  sin.  Sad  heri- 
tage; possession  sadder  still. 

'  E'en  the  rapture  of  pardon  is  mingled  with  fears, 
And  the  cup  of  thanksgiving  with  penitent  tears.' 

"As  the  most  impressive  expression  of  sin 
ever  made,  or  ever  to  be  made,  was  the  sacri- 
fice of  Christ,  so,  oft  as  the    day   returns  it 


72  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

brings  back  the  memory  of  our  mournful  con- 
dition. Away,  away  from  the  presence  of  our 
Father,  exposed  to  the  attacks  and  influences 
of  malicious  natures,  and  malicious  spirits,  like 
half-clad  and  houseless  wanderers  in  a  winter 
storm,  we  crouch  and  cower  under  the  nearest 
shelter,  and  stand,  shivering,  as  the  storms  of 
life  roll  on,  instead  of  pressing  vigorously  on- 
Avard  toward  our  home,  and  the  comfortable 
presence  of  God.  Chilled  through  with  the 
biting  atmosphere  of  this  dark  world,  and 
bewildered  in  its  mazes,  'then  I'll  look  up.'- 
There  the  day-star  shines  to  guide  me  home, 
and  there  the  blessed  Sun  of  Righteousness,  to 
cheer  and  warm  me  with  rays  of  love  while  here. 

"February  19. — 

'  Re  near  me  when  the  light  is  low, 
When  the  blood  creeps  and  the  nerves  prick 
And  tingle,  and  the  heart  is  sick. 
And  all  the  wheels  of  being  slow. 
Be  near  me  when  the  sensuous  frame 
Is  racked  with  pangs  that  conquer  trust, 
And  time  a  maniac  scattering  dust, 
And  life  a  fury  flinging  flame, 
Be  near  me.' 


REV.   JOHN   G.   TTTOM.  73 

"And  why?  Not  to  lighten  the  burden  of 
grief  when  the  mind  is  bowed  down  with  its 
weight;  not  to  soothe  the  aching  brow  or 
quivering  nerves  when  the  body  is  racked 
with  pain,  but  to  act  as  a  sentinel  upon  the 
wandering  fancies,  and  call  back  the  wild 
vagaries  of  the  unsettled  mind.  Poor  human 
reason,  distracted  by  the  strange  contradic- 
tions of  this  'wondrous,  weary,  unintelligible 
world,'  is  not  left  to  wander  alone  amid  the 
night  of  years.  Solitude  is  delightful  to  a  con- 
templative mind,  but  to  most  natures  its  unre- 
strained indulgence  is  dangerous.  Different 
minds,  with  their  various  errors,  like  the 
opposite  influences  of  the  planets  in  our  sys- 
tem, in  the  end  compensate  each  other.  But 
a  single  one,  unconnected,  stretching  out  on 
the  sea  of  thought,  pursues  the  still  vanishing 
solution  of  the  great  problems  of  life  and 
death,  God  and  man,  being  and  dissolution, 
till  out  of  sight  of  shore,  befogged  in  the  midst 
of  ignorance,  bewildered  by  the  contradictory 
voices  of  nature  and  his  own  soul,  and  drifted 
away  by  the  currents  of  passion  and  of  pride, 
■  7 


74  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

lie  becomes  'a  wanderer  o'er  eternity,  whose 
bark  drives  on  and  on,  and  ne'er  shall  anchored 
be.'  Let  the  soul  build  realms  for  herself  which 
shall  never  be  realized,  and  people  them  with 
beings  that  shall  never  exist,  but  check  the 
first  budding  of  crude  speculation,  and  forbid 
the  first  interrogation  of  impertinent  inquiry. 

"  It  is  night.  "We  should  dwell  upon  beau- 
ties not  found  upon  earth,  and  even  grow 
familiar  with  dreams  of  happiness  which  this 
life  shall  never  see. 

"  February  24. 

*  How  glorious,  how  majestic  is  yonder  setting  sun, 
'Tis  thus  the  hero  falls,  'tis  thus  he  dies  in  godlike  majesty.' 

I  was  reading  to-day  of  an  interview  between 
Bayard  Taylor  and  the  Baron  Von  Humboldt, 
at  the  close  of  which  the  veteran  traveler  took 
the  hand  of  his  younger  rival  and  said:  'You 
have  traveled  much,  and  seen  many  ruins. 
You  have  now  seen  another.'  To  which  Tay- 
lor responded:  'Not  a  ruin;  a  pyramidP  A 
pyramid  indeed.  The  drifting  sands  of  the 
desert  shall  sooner  swallow  up  those  of  the 
Nile  than  the  dust  of  ages  bury  the  story  of 


REV.   JOHN   C.    TIIOM.  75 

his  wanderings.  They  may  have  served  to 
conceal  the  treasures  of  kings;  but  his  re- 
searches assisted  to  develope  those  of  the  King 
of  kings.  They  may  have  answered  as  tombs 
for  the  Ptolemies,  but  he  dragged  to  light 
secrets  concealed  since  before  the  Ptolemies 
were.  If  such  a  man  be  not  great,  what  is 
true  greatness?  Does  it  consist  in  the  perfect 
training  of  Gustavus  Adolphus,  the  school- 
master of  war,  or  in  the  reckless  bravery  of 
Charles  XII.,  or  in  the  eccentricity  of  Frederic 
William,  and  his  brigade  of  seven-footers? 
These  all  acted  their  part  in  the  drama  of  the 
world,  and  thousands  of  others  have  figured, 
and  will  figure,  upon  the  same  stage.  But 
there  is  an  arena  grander  still,  where,  instead 
of  the  boundaries  of  empire,  the  boundaries  of 
thought  are  extended,  and  where  the  victims 
are  not  regiments  of  soldiers,  but  ignorance 
and  prejudice.  A  soldier  may  be  great.  A 
conqueror  may  be  a  hero;  he  may  stem  the 
tide  of  despotism,  and  break  the  fetters  of 
opposition.  But  he  is  not  great  in  his  calling, 
or  even  in  his  success.     He  is  great  only  when 


76  MEMOIK    OF   THE 

his  object  is  great.  But  he  who  spends  his 
life  in  conquering  the  obstacles  to  human 
improvement,  and  in  enlarging  the  range  of 
human  knowledge,  and  increasing  the  material 
for  thought,  is  great  in  himself,  in  his  calling, 
and  in  his  success. 

"February  18.  There  is  to  me  something 
peculiarly  pleasant  in  those  creations  of  fancy 
which  the  soul  conjures  up  as  a  kind  of  offset 
to  the  duller  realities  of  life,  as  if  to  compen- 
sate herself  for  her  uncongenial  surroundings. 
Whilst  clogged  with  the  corporeal  incum- 
brance, she  takes  advantage  of  moments  of 
vacancy  to  wander  oft'  into  an  airy  realm  of 
her  own,  and  to  expatiate  amid  its  aerial  beau- 
ties. Becoming  itself  a  portion  of  the  world 
of  its  own  creating,  far  from  the  gross  contacts 
of  real  life,  it  finds  its  congenial  residence 
where  no  jar  disturbs  the  unbroken  harmony, 
and  no  sorrow  intrudes  upon  unmingled  hap- 
piness. Now,  instead  of  condemning  these  airy 
flights,  they  seem  to  me  a  beautiful  evidence 
of  something  nobler  in  man  than  the  present 
state  is  able  to  develope,  something  to  which 


REV.   JOUN   C.   THOM.  77 

pollution  is  foreign,  and  discord  painful,  and 
which,  in  itself,  looks  to  a  future  for  deliver- 
ance from  a  painful  captivity.  Instead  of 
chaining  down  the  imagination  to  the  narrow 
limits  of  daily  routine,  and  circumscribing  the 
mind  to  its  range  of  observation,  I  would 
encourage  it  to  rise  higher  and  higher  in  its 
flight,  and  breathe  an  atmosphere  purer  and 
purer,  as  it  leaves  the  rank  effluvia  that  reeks 
up  from  the  seething  caldron  of  sordid  selfish- 
ness, open  debauchery,  and  secret  crime,  until 
bathing  its  broad  wing  with  confident  nativity 
in  its  proper  element,  it  basks  again  in  the 
undimmed  radiance  of  heaven.  There  the 
shackles  will  drop  off,  and,  above  the  world, 
angels  will  be  its  companions,  and  God  iTs 
sun  and  shield. 

"March  3.  I  have  just  received  a  letter 
from  a  dear  friend,  recording  the  goodness  of 
God  in  taking  him  'from  the  horrible  pit  and 
miry  clay.'  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul!  But 
indeed  his  story  is  a  sad  one — all  his  fond 
hopes  of  love,  and  home,  and  happiness,  sud- 
denly swept  away.    No  wonder  his  faith  reeled 


78  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

under  the  blow.  No  wonder  the  heavens 
seemed  like  brass,  and  the  earth  like  iron,  long 
before  he  was  softened,  and  so  humbled  as  to 
say,  '  Thy  will  be  done.'  May  He  who  giveth 
songs  in  the  night,  still  comfort  and  sustain 
him." 

"March  7.  *  *  *  But  after  all,  how  fantas- 
tic are  all  my  woes!  How  puerile  my  causes 
of  despondency!  It  is  true  there  are  graves  in 
my  heart,  both  of  hopes  and  friends.  But  I 
have  life,  and  energy,  and  something  burning 
within,  turning  my  brain  to  fire,  and  my  blood 
to  lava,  and  my  muscles  to  steel,  as  I  almost 
shout  to  enter  the  battle-field,  and  try  my 
strength  with  men  upon  the  arena  of  life.  I 
chafe  like  a  caged  eagle.  I  long  to  try  my 
wings  on  the  unmeasured  expanse,  and  my 
secret  soul  never  doubts  of  success.  But  when 
shall  I  obtain  the  power?  Except  a  mass  of 
thought,  struggling  for  utterance,  and  finding 
none,  and  a  will  that  compels  all  but  impossi- 
bilities, I  know  I  have  but  little.  Yet,  He 
who  has  led  me  hitherto,  can  use  as  humble  an 
instrument  as  I  for  His  glory.     Do  not  say  I 


KEY.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  79 

am  moved  by  pride  of  place.  I  think  I  am 
willing  to  labor  wherever  duty  calls.  For  my- 
self I  care  not.  Labor,  and  toil,  and  penury; 
penury,  labor,  and  toil,  will  doubtless  mark 
the  weary  cycles  of  my  pilgrimage  upon  earth, 
and  I  shall  be  content  if  I  enjoy  the  smile  of 
my  Father  in  Heaven.  But  I  am  ambitious  to 
stand  in  the  front  rank  of  those  who  turn 
many  to  righteousness.  Lay  the  coal  from  thy 
altar  upon  my  lips,  O  purifying  Spirit,  and 
breathe  upon  my  cold  heart,  that  it  may  glow 
with  new  life.'' 

"April  8.  The  sky,  so  clear  all  day,  has 
been  suddenly  overcast.  The  clouds  are 
thick  and  dark,  and  the  old  trees  are  waving 
their  arms  wildly  as  an  unchained  maniac. 
If  Virgil  and  a  few  others  had  not  described 
storms,  I  should  be  tempted  to  do  so!  But 
the  world  is  pretty  well  posted  on  that  subject, 
so  I  forbear.  It  seemed  to  me,  however,  that 
Jupiter  Tonans,  grasping  the  lightning  in  his 
glittering  right  hand,  and  the  more  enlightened 
idea  of  'our  God,  who  plants  his  footsteps  in 


80  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

the  sea,  and  rides  upon  the  storm,'  is  the 
irresistible  impression  of  such  a  scene. 

"  That  the  peaceful,  silent  air,  that  sleeps  in 
the  shady  valley — the  balmy  zephyr  that 
kisses  the  invalid's  cheek — 'the  sweet  south 
wind  that  breathes  upon  a  bank  of  violets,' 
should  awake  to  such  a  fearful  energy  without 
the  stimulus  of  an  Omnipotent  hand,  seems 
incredible.  And  when  the  fierce  coursers  are 
unbound,  who  but  God  could  lay  his  hand 
upon  their  manes,  and  bind  them  to  His 
chariot? 

"  But  who  can  feel  the  pressure  of  a  present 
sublimity  and  then  mould  his  thoughts  to 
words?  The  mirror  returns  an  image,  dimmed, 
it  is  true,  but  faithful.  The  air  transmits  the 
thunder's  sound  with  diminished  power,  but 
it  is  thunder  still.  Even  in  death  we  trace 
some  feeble  remains  of  its  empire  over  clay ; 
but  neither  mirror,  nor  medium,  nor  image, 
has  the  soul  to  shadow  forth  its  unwritten 
volumes,  or  give  expression  to  its  soundless 
tones. 


REV.   JOHN   C.   TIIOM.  81 

"April  9.— 

Across  the  valley  Acheronian, 

Speak  the  dead  in  song  and  story; 

But  the  soul  in  depth  Plutonean, 

Hides  away  its  secrets  hoary. 

The  bard  may  reach  the  night  Cimmerian, 

"With  not  a  ray  upon  its  shore, 

When  upward  to  the  bright  Hyperian 

"With  tireless,  mounting,  fancy  soar; 

But  pen  and  word,  and  thought  and  tongue. 

Have  left  the  soul  untold,  unwritten,  and  unsung. 

*'  Mrs.  North  says  sTie  invoked  the  harp  of 
the  north.  But  instead  of  that  I  got  to  the 
very  opposite  extreme.  Well,  perhaps  the 
language  is  a  little  Tartarian,  but  I  shall 
insist  the  only  fault  the  idea  has  is,  that  it  is 
too  true  to  be  poetic.  Mrs.  North  sympatheti- 
cally adds,  that  she  never  saw  a  poor  wanderer 
so  tempest  tossed  from  the  lowest  depths  up 
to  Cimmerian,  and  then  up  to  Hyperian. 
Well,  it  was  a  considerable  distance  to  ride  a 
muse  in  the  space  of  ten  lines.  It  must 
almost  equal  Mahommed's  dromedary !  Dear, 
kind  woman!  If  the  blessing  of  the  stranger 
can  in  any  degree  lighten  the  human  lot, 
surely  yours  will  shine  more  and  more  unto 
the  perfect  day. 


82  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

"April  — .  Busy  all  day:  nothing  done. 
And  so  life  passes.  How  many  vain  regrets ; 
how  many  fraitlcss  resolutions;  how  many 
puerile  efibrts,  make  up  the  sura  total  of  a 
man's  history !  Life  is  scarcely  a  strife.  In 
the  experience  of  most  men,  it  is  an  unquiet 
lingering  on  the  outskirts  of  the  battle-field, 
■without  the  resolution  to  enter  the  lists  until 
the  sun  goes  down.  The  herald  proclaims  the 
contest  over,  and  the  laurels  are  not  won. 
The  war,  indeed,  is  in  our  ears  all  the  day 
long.  We  see  the  success  and  failures  of  the 
combatants  all  around  us.  But  we  delay  and 
dally;  we  'resolve  and  re-resolve,  and  die  the 
same.'  Especially  now,  our  flaccid  muscles, 
and  eflfeminated  frames,  are  no  longer  fit 
tenements  for  the  iron  wills,  and  unconquera- 
ble resolution,  of  our  ancestry.  I  am  not  dis- 
posed to  depreciate  the  present  race,  and 
unduly  exalt  the  more  gross  and  unrefined 
state  of  society  from  which  our  forefathers 
emerged,  but  I  do  think  that,  as  a  nation  and 
people,  we  are  becoming  French^  in  a  geometri- 
cal ratio,  and  soon,  lawless  indolence,  and  aim- 


REV.  JOHN   C.  THOM.  88 

less  flippancy,  will  have  supplanted  the  radical 
virtues  of  simplicity,  economy,  and  energy. 

"April  15.  I  have  not  sufficient  elasticity, 
either  of  mind  or  feeling,  to  interest  myself  in 
the  process  of  writing.  What  a  strangely 
constituted  being  I  am,  or  I  might  extend 
the  range  to  include  my  fellow-worms,  and 
say  ive.  We  swim  in  a  sea  of  pleasure,  and 
think  'life  too  fair  for  aught  so  fleeting,'  and 
then,  without  a  real  cause,  we  writhe  in  agony, 
as  if  our  bed  were  suddenly  turned  to  lava. 
'Now  what  is  Hecuba  to  me,  or  me  to 
Hecuba?'  And  yet  I  am  sad  almost  beyond 
control.  The  current  of  life  is  flowing 
smoothly  in  my  veins;  my  friends  are  kind 
as  ever;  my  prospects  as  good  as  they  were 
wont  to  be,  and  yet  the  folly  of  a  silly  boy 
or  two  can  depress  my  spirit  till  my  heart  is 
almost  ready  to  relieve  itself  in  tears. 

"Through  the  mists  around  me  the  phantom 
appears  a  monster,  clothed  with  Gorgon  horrors, 
and  with  all  my  resolution  I  cannot  shake  off 
the  incubus  that  weighs  upon  me.  But  were 
my  trials  all  that  my  fancy  paints  them,   'or 


84  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

worse  than  worst  of  those  that  lawless  and 
uncertain  thoughts  imagine,'  why  should  the 
spirit  that  claims  affinity  with  the  Deity,  a 
link  midway  between  two  worlds,  an  interest 
to  all  the  intelligent  universe,  for  which  angels 
labor,  and  devils  howl,  and  God  himself  bled, — 
why  should  that  which  roams  at  will  through 
the  illimitable  fields  of  knowledge,  and  the 
still  grander  field  of  imagination,  be  chafed 
and  galled  by  the  discomforts  and  difficulties 
of  an  inch  of  space,  and  a  point  of  time?  'O, 
what  a  mystery  is  man  to  man !  I  wonder  at 
myself  and  in  myself  am  lost,' 

"Time  seems,  for  the  last  week  or  two, 

to  pass  slowly,  while,  before,  it  went  with 
lightning  speed.  The  approaching  May,  with 
its  excitements,  and  the  prospect  of  my  own 
examination,  makes  the  difierence,  I  presume. 
The  time  of  my  sojourn  here  seems  almost  at 
a  close.  Bat  a  little  more  than  three  months, 
and  the  places  that  know  me  now,  shall  know 
me  no  more.  My  heart  will  be  very  sad  at 
parting  from  the  few  friends  who  have  strewed 
my  path  with  all  the  happiness  I  have  enjoyed, 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM,  85 

and  whose  like  I  may  not  hope  to  see  again; 
who  forgave  faults  none  the  less  readily 
because  they  give  acute  and  peculiar  pain, 
and  who  seem,  with  all  my  faults,  to  love  me 
still.  O,  what  a  world  Heaven  must  be,  where 
all  the  inhabitants  are  pure  benevolents,  and 
the  God  of  love  over  all ! 

"April  16.  Came  home  and  found  a  most 
beautiful  vase  of  flowers  on  my  table;  roses, 
and  pinks,  and  camelias, — beautiful  and  rare! 
Blessings  on  the  giver!  Those  lovely  evi- 
dences of  the  goodness  of  God  meet  me  like 
angel  messengers,  and  point  my  groveling 
thoughts  to  heaven. 

'Sweet  fields  beyond  the  swelling  tide, 
Stand  dressed  in  living  green/ 

and  our  heavenly  Father  shows  Uis  goodness 
in  nothing  more  than  strewing  our  pathway 
here  with  these  lovely,  silent,  eloquent,  mes- 
sengers of  a  good  God  to  His  prodigal  chil- 
dren. 

"April  19,     If  we  view  life  from  the  mere 
stand-point  of  time,  it  is  indeed  a  failure.     It 
8 


8.6  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

is  at  best  but  a  sad  experiment.  Sad^  even 
when  most  successful.  Even  when  our  hoary 
heads  are  crowned  with  honor,  we  but  go 
down  to  the  grave,  and  mix  with  the  com- 
monest dust  at  last,  and  'he  died,'  is  the  sum- 
ing  up  of  man's  history.  But  few,  as  far  as 
life  is  intrinsically  considered,  would  endure 
life,  and  none  would  live  it  over  again. 
'What  is  all  this  worth?'  is  the  natural 
inquiry  of  all  men,  after  tasting  all  that  life 
can  afford.  Bat  when  considered  in  the  great 
light  of  eternity,  it  becomes  a  very  different 
matter.  When  ten  thousand  ages  have  rolled 
away ;  when  the  lights  that  shone  on  creation's 
dawn,  and  which  shall  shine  unchanged  upon 
its  night,  shall  have  burnt  out  their  fires,  and 
fallen  back  into  their  original  chaos;  when  all 
things  shall  be  old  but  God,  and  the  spirits 
which  he  breathed  into  existence;  when  the 
present  shall  have  become  the  hoary  past,  and 
the  past  shall  be  forgotten, — then,  in  our 
separate  individualities,  we  shall  know  the 
value  of  life.  'It  is  a  tale  told  by  an  idiot,' 
for  its  meaning,  its  fearful    meaning,  is  mis- 


REV.    JOHN    C.   THOM.  87 

taken.  It  is  but  an  unquiet  wandering  in  a 
strange  land,  for  our  home  lies  bej'-ond. 
'Guide  me,  O  Thou  great  Jehovah!'  May 
this  not  only  be  a  new  year  of  my  life,  but  a 
year  of  a  new  life.  (Written  on  his  birthday.) 
"May  3.  Chilly  and  damp— fit  representa- 
tion of  this  world  of  ours.  It  is  true  I  have 
comfortable  apartments,  and  a  cheerful  fire,  by 
which  I  place  my  great  arm-chair  and  enjoy 
the  genial  warmth;  but  clouds  are  over  the 
face  of  the  sky,  and  the  great  sun  is  obscured, 
while  the  rain  patters  unceasingly,  or,  driven 
by  the  cold  wind,  beats  against  my  casement. 
So  in  life,  we  gather  around  us  our  little  world, 
wrap  ourselves  in  the  comforts  and  enjoyments 
of  our  homes,  and  warm  ourselves  by  the  rays 
of  human  love,  and  while  our  roof-tree  is  firm, 
and  our  fire  goes  not  out,  we  may  close  our 
eyes  and  ears  for  a  little.  But  it  is  still  true, 
notwithstanding,  that,  outside,  all  is  cold,  and 
dark,  and  our  habitation  is  in  the  midst  of 
dreariness  and  gloom,  into  which  we  may  be 
driven  by  our  falling  structures,  and  feel  our- 
selves to  be,  what  we  really  are,  orphan  wan- 


88  MEMOIR    OF   THE 

derers  through  'ii  gloom,  pierced  by  no  star.' 
The  heathen  poet  said,  two  thousand  years  ago, 
'We  are  also  his  offspring,'  and  the  apostle  of 
the  Gentiles  endorsed  the  sentiment.  But  ah ! 
there  lies  the  saddest  element  in  our  melan- 
choly condition.  If  we  had  not  been  the 
handiwork  of  God,  and  his  subjects  by  crea- 
tion, we  could  never  bear  about  with  us  His 
wrath.  We  would  never  feel  working  in  us 
that  repellant  power,  born  of  rebellion,  and 
compounded  of  hatred  and  fear.  Had  not  the 
light  of  a  Father's  love  shone  upon  the  dawn 
of  our  race,  as  the  first  happy  pair  came  pure 
from  the  hands  of  their  Maker,  we  would  never 
have  known  the  meaning,  the  fearful  meaning, 
of  our  present  desolation.  Conscious  of  guilt, 
and  pursued  for  ever  by  the  voice  of  justice, 
crying,  'Pay  me  that  thou  owest,' no  wonder 
we  fly  as  far  as  possible  from  that  purity  and 
holiness  which  we  can  never  satisfy,  and,  by  an 
easy  transition,  from  fearing  we  pass  to  hatred. 
Truly  we  are  worse  than  orphans;  worse  than 
the  spawn  of  the  wandering  beggar,  for  we  are 
the  outcasts  of  a  palace,  miserable  exiles  from 


REV.   JOHN   C.  TIIOM.  89 

a  paradise;  princes  of  a  magnificent  domain, 
sold  into  bondage;  bright-eyed  sons  of  the 
morning  groping  in  blindness  and  agony 
through  the  cheerless  night.  Sun-kissed 
dwellers  among  vine-clad  hills,  we  are  sur- 
rounded with  the  bleak  snows  of  an  eternal 
winter.  O,  we  are  the  fallen  turrets  of  a  mag- 
nificent structure,  upon  every  stone  of  which 
is  written,  ruin,  desolation,  and  decay!  And 
worst  of  all,  the  sword  hangs  over  us;  not  only 
to  prevent  our  restoration,  but  it  goes  on  hew- 
ing to  pieces  the  fallen  fragments,  and  pursu- 
ing them  to  the  four  winds !  O,  what  a  terri- 
ble sword  it  is!  It  never  but  once  found  an 
object  on  which  it  could  full  flesh  its  trenchant 
edge. 

"May  23.— 

0 !  why  should  human  love  and  hope 

But  blossom  into  grief? 
Help,  Father!  In  this  maze  I  grope, 

And  tears  are  my  relief. 
But  bleed  my  heart:  I  need  the  paiu, 

To  purge  the  dross  away. 
So  sorrows  brighten  future  gain, 

As  night  adorns  the  day. 

8* 


90  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

"  There  are  but  few  things  in  the  world  that 
seem  to  me  really  proper  subjects  for  sadness 
There  are  times,  it  is  true,  when  my  feelings  are 
depressed,  and  I  cannot  even  persuade  myself 
that  I  have  a  legitimate  cause.  But  when  my 
feelings  are  touched  through  the  medium  of 
my  aft'ections,  I  succumb  at  once.  My  sadness 
is  all  the  more  uncontrolable,  because  reflec- 
tion but  increases  the  intensity  of  the  coloring. 
And  unless  I  can  persuade  myself  to  repudiate 
the  very  feelings  and  characteristics  which 
constitute  my  individuality,  and  become  a 
mere  link  in  the  concatenation  of  things,  which 
would  fit  as  well  in  another  place  as  in  the  one 
I  occupy,  I  can  find  no  palliative." 

There  are  a  number  of  notes  which  appear 
to  be  parts  of  his  journal  to  which  no  dates 
are  prefixed.  Some  of  these  will  close  the 
present  chapter.  Having  referred  to  certain 
prevailing  habits  and  associations,  in  Natchez, 
which  were  trials  of  faith,  he  adds :  "  I  hope  I 
shall  be  able  to  do  my  simple  duty,  and  trust 
in  God.    But  unless  his  spirit  be  present  to  aid 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  91 

me  with  bis  Divine  power  and  guidance,  I  shall 
fail. 

'Guide  me,  0  Thou  c^reat  Jehovah, 
Pilgrim  through  this  barren  land.' 

"  Heard  to-day  of  the  acquittal  of  G ,  on 

trial  for  swindling,  or  rather  embezzling  of 
funds  to  a  large"  amount  in  New  Orleans. 
Most  probable  his  acquittal  was  owing  to  his 
guilt;  so  that  'the  condition  trammelled  up  the 
consequence,'  and  the  man  'pardoned  for  part- 
ing with  a  part  of  the  oflence.'  So  the  best 
security  of  life  and  property  can  be  bought 
and  sold.  'In  the  corrupted  currents  of  this 
world,  offence's  gilded  hand  may  shove  by  jus- 
tice, and  oft  'tis  seen  the  wicked  prize  itself 
buys  out  the  law.  But  'tis  not  so  above. 
There  is  no  shuffling.' 

"  If  Religion  were  a  fable,  what  a  fable 

it  would  be!  How  philosophical  in  doctrine! 
How  far-sighted  in  precept!  How  philanthro- 
pic in  spirit!  How  noble  in  object!  How 
sublime  in  its  consummation!  That  such  a 
scheme  should  spring  from  nothing,  is  more 
incredible  than  that  the  great  world,  and  all 


92  MEMOIR   OP   THE 

that  is  in  it,  should  spring  from  nothing.  If 
its  orio;in  was  in  the  unsubstantial  fliojhts  of  a 
distempered  fancy,  then  let  us  all  turn  dream- 
ers, for  no  elaboration  of  thought,  no  deduc- 
tions of  reason,  no  painfully  collated  improve- 
ments upon  the  experience  of  all  the  past, 
ever  have  attained,  or  ever  will  approach,  the 
simple  sublimity,  and  profound  and  undenia- 
ble wisdom  of  its  truths. 
•  "The  wisest  among  the  heathen  were  bewil- 
dered and  amazed  with  what  they  saw  around 
them.  But  they  dared  not  advance  to  the 
great  solution  with  boldness,  for  it  seemed  a 
thing  incredible  that  God  should  raise  the 
dead.  With  the  more  humble,  tradition  solved 
the  mystery,  and  all  was  clear.  The  intellec- 
tual Titans  of  the  German  school  exhaust  their 
energies  in  striving  to  brutify  and  degrade 
what  the  Bible  has  ennobled  and  dignified. 
The  widow  in  her  cottage  is  content  to  believe; 
man  is  honored,  and  God  is  glorified.  Truly, 
the  foolishness  of  God  is  wiser  than  men,  and 
the  weakness  of  God  is  stronger  than  men. 
"I  think  I  must  be  about  to  experience 


REV.   JOHN'   C.   THOM,  93 

some  great  good,  '  for  we  all  know  that  secu- 
rity is  mortal's  chiefest  enemy,'  To  me  there 
is  such  a  sense  of  uneasiness,  that  'over  all 
there  hane^s  the  shadow  of  a  fear.  A  sense  of 
mystery  has  the  spirit  daunted,'  and  says  in 
every  breath,  and  every  word,  '  sorrow  awaits 
thee.'  But  poor  Ephemeron,  why  swells  your 
heart  with  pain,  or  why  does  it  leap  with  joy, 
when  the  poor  rag  upon  which  your  thoughts 
are  inscribed  may  far  outlive  your  earthly 
joys  and  sorrows.  Strange  comment  upon 
human  fame,  when  it  depends  for  perpetuation 
upon  material  so  feeble  and  transient!  So  in 
a  sense,  the  sacred  poet  did  not  anticipate. 
Man  is  crushed  before  the  moth.  When  a 
hundred  years  have  rolled  away,  where  shall  I 
be,  and  where  shall  be  my  memory?  In  the 
mighty  past  it  will  glimmer  faintly,  or  per- 
haps it  may  have  ceased  even  to  glimmer. 
And  yet  my  appetite  for  immortality  is  insa- 
tiable. '  It  must  be.  Cato,  thou  reasonest 
well.'  And  after  all,  what  a  melancholy  thing 
is  human  greatness,  purchased,  as  it  must  be, 
either  by  the  corrosion  of  one's  own  spirit,  by 


94  MEMOIR   OF   TPIE 

the  energy  of  internal  fire  that  hums,  and 
barns,  until  the  poor  wretch  is  consumed  by 
his  own  vitality,  or  by  the  groans  of  other 
victims,  sacrified  on  the  altar  of  his  ambition. 
'There  is  no  release  in  that  war.'  There  is  no 
greatness  without  suffering.  From  the  grave 
of  a  suicide,  Hugh  Miller  speaks,  O,  so  elo- 
quently! of  the  madness  of  it  all.  The  un- 
tiring energy  and  dauntless  perseverance  that 
grappled  with  every  difficulty,  and  manfully 
wound  his  way  up  to  the  summit  of  his  ambi- 
tion, then  grew  dizzy  and  reeled;  half  recov- 
ered,— the  deadly  weapon  is  in  his  hand;  a 
spasm,  and  all  is  over.  How  are  the  mighty 
fallen!" 

Writing,  in  the  early  spring,  of  birds,  and 
flowers,  and  fruits,  of  fig  and  orange  blossoms, 
he  says:  "Such  things  as  these  tell  me  that  I 
am  a  wanderer.  But  I  read  it  everywhere, 
from  my  own  heart  to  the  very  stars  I  gazed 
upon  under  a  more  inhospitable  sky.  Even 
the  heavens  here  are  strange.  The  Great  Bear 
hides  himself  during  part  of  the  night  below 
the  horizon,  while  the  ship  of  Argos  comes  up 


REV.   JOHN"    C.   TIIOM.  95 

in  the  south,  and  stares  at  me  with  its  great 
eyes,  as  if  to  tell  me  that  I  am  a  stranger. 

"Last  Sabbath,  Ecv.  Dr.  Stratton  took  the 
position,  that  ambition  is  the  most  powerful 
passion  in  the  human  breast.  It  may  be  so; 
and  there  are  reasons  why  our  intellectual  and 
immortal  being  should  be  more  likely  to  yield 
to  the  influence  of  ambition  than  to  any  other 
passion.  But  the  objects  of  ambition  are  as 
various  as  its  empire  is  large.  From  Boling- 
broke's  gross  desire  to  be  preeminent  in  dissi- 
pation and  sensuality,  to  the  sacred  ambition  of 
excelling  in  goodness,  there  is  every  shade 
and  degree.  But,  after  all,  it  is  selfishness,  and 
very  short-sighted  at  that.  How  like  apples 
of  Sodom  are  its  rewards  and  its  crowns. 
'What  are  ye  now  but  thorns  about  my  bleed- 
ing brow,'  is  the  feelino-  of  its  most  successful 
devotees. 

'  Small  have  continual  plodders  ever  won 
Save  base  authority  from  others  books. — Shakspeare. 

*  Much  study  is  a  weariness  of  the  flesh. — Bible. 

Now,  I  do  not  repudiate  all  study.     I  think 
a  'soul  without  reflection,  like  a  pile  without 


yo  MEMOIR  OF   THE 

inhabitant,  to  ruin  runs.'     But  why  should  we 
waste  our  hours  in  loading  our  memories  with 
the  fancies  of  other  men,  while  mines  of  une- 
laboratcd  thought  lie   neglected    in  our  own 
souls?     Simply  for  one  reason.     It  is  easier  to 
read  than  to  think;  to  remember  than  to  re- 
flect; to  appropriate  than  to  originate.     Our 
literary  pampering  has   done  for   our  minds 
what  our  more  luxuriant  mode  of  life  is  doinoj 
for   our  bodies:    refined,  and  made  more  ele- 
gant perhaps;  but  where  are  the  giant  frames, 
and  iron  muscles  of  our  hardy  sires?  We  read 
the  lofty  soarings  of  Milton,  and  the  infinite 
variations   of    the   versatile    Shakspeare,   the 
wonderful  inductions  of  Bacon,  and  the  far- 
reaching  analysis  of  Newton,  but  instead  of 
rousing  ourselves  to  emulate  their  fame,  we 
say,  truly,  'there  were  giants  in  those  days.' 
We  are  growing  refined  and  sentimental,  or 
skeptical   and    metaphysical ;    and   instead  of 
elaborating  the  important  problems  of  ethics 
and  physics,  which  are  yet  unsolved,  we  take 
to  'splitting  hairs  'twixt  south  and  south-west 
side,'  anl  think  we  are  profound  because  we  are 


REV.   JOHN   C.   TIIOM.  97 

unintelligible.  But,  I  suppose  if  I  were  in  the 
olden  time,  forecasting  the  future,  I  would 
pine  for  the  refinement  and  books  of  the 
nineteenth  century. 

"Heard    Dr.   Palmer   on    the    text: 

'How  is  my  soul  troubled.'  If  his  bodily 
presence  is  weak,  his  speech  is  by  no  means 
contemptible.  Although  his  declamatory 
power  is  by  no  means  so  high  as  estimated  by 
some,  he  has  a  great  deal  of  nervous  physical 
power,  and  his  style  of  thought  is  strong  and 
remarkably  clear,  so  that  the  whole  discourse 
seems  impressed  on  the  mind  as  a  unity,  over 
which  you  can  look,  and  recall  almost  every 
idea.  After  introducing  his  subject  by  a 
description  of  the  sorrows  to  which  man  is 
heir  in  life,  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave,  he 
remarked,  that  the  Man  of  Sorrows  was  pre- 
eminently experienced  in  them  all.  He  then 
went  on  to  enumerate  the  different  elements 
in  His  sufferings  at  the  time  he  gave  utter- 
ance to  the  words  of  the  text.  They  were: 
First,  An  overwhelming  sense  of  His  respon- 
sibilities. Second,  Instinctive  and  human 
9 


98  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

horroT  at  the  sense  of  approaching  death. 
Third,  The  contact,  and  burden  of  sin  that 
was  laid  upon  Him — all  viewed  as  an  indica- 
tion of  the  love  of  God,  and  as  a  vindication  of 
the  sovereignty  of  His  attributes." 

Speaking  of  the  excitement  of  election  days 
in  Natchez,  he  writes:  "I  looked  at  the  ban- 
ners streaming — the  fire  blazing — the  torches 
sparkling — the  fire-balls,  red,  white,  and  blue, 
exploding  hundreds  of  feet  high  in  the  air — 
the  balloons  ascending  and  floating  away  to 
the  north — the  motley  crowd,  black,  brown, 
and  white,  swaying  under  the  influence  of 
intense  excitement  around  the  speaker's  stand, 
till  wearied,  and  sick  at  heart,  with  all  the 
glitter  and  glare  of  false  patriotism,  and  real 
duplicity,  I  withdrew  from  the  crowd,  and 
wended  my  way  home. 

"It  is  a  glorious  night.  Old  Orion,  the 
Pleiades,  and  Ilyades,  Procyon,  and  Capella, 
look  down  like  holy  things  on  a  sinful  world; 
so  calm,  so  beautiful.  I  thought  of  the  glory 
and  beauty  of  God's  House.  I  thought  too  of 
the  dear  friends  who  had  watched  the  same 


KEV.    JOHN    C.   TIIOM.  99 

stars  with  me  under  a  more  inclement  sky. 
O,  my  quiet  home!  To-day  we  heard  of  tbe 
Lamb  of  God,  who  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world;  to-morrow  we  commemorate  His  death. 
Strange  medley!  At  these  times  my  thoughts 
revert,  0,  how  tenderly!  to  the  home  of  my 
childhood,  and  I  feel  strengthened  by  the 
assurance,  that  for  me  prayers  continually 
ascend,  in  the  earnestness  of  true  devotion,  to 
the  ears  of  the  Lord  of  Sabaoth." 

Now  he  takes  his  last  survey  of  the  natural 
beauties  which  he  is  about  to  leave,  and  then 
remarks:  "If  it  were  not  for  sin,  what  a 
beautiful  world  this  would  be,  and  what  a 
beautiful  thing  life  would  be!  But  that 
poisons  every  cup,  and  embitters  every  joy. 
Suspicion  and  treachery,  mistrust  and  deceit, 
grow  alike  on  that  fatal  tree.  O,  God,  when 
will  the  curse  have  an  end!" 

From  the  pleasant  scenes  and  associations 
of  the  sunny  south,  he  turned  away,  never  to 
return,  his  thoughts  elevated  to  that  world 
where  the  broken  chain  of  human  affection 
will  be  reunited,  and  the  sad  word  "farewell" 
will  never  be  spoken. 


100  MEMOIR   OF   THE 


CHAPTER    VI. 

STUDENT    IN'    THE    THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARV. 

Soon  after  leaving  Natchez,  Mr.  Thorn  en- 
tered the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton, 
New  Jersey.  He  conscientiously  conformed 
to  all  the  rules  of  that  institution,  was  a  dili- 
gent student,  and  gathered  knowledge  from 
every  available  source.  His  range  of  theo- 
logical reading  was  wide,  and  with  several 
Latin  authors  he  became  so  familiar,  that  he 
could  quote  from  them  with  remarkable 
accuracy.  Turretine's  works  were  thoroughly 
mastered,  and  he  considered  himself  more 
indebted  to  these  for  what  theological  attain- 
ments he  had  made,  than  to  any  other  human 
production.  He  placed  a  high  estimate  upon 
the  advantages  enjoyed  in  the  Seminary,  and 
was  ever  after  an  enthusiastic  friend  of  that 
honored  "school  of  the  prophets." 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  101 

Not  by  study  only,  but  by  the  cultivation 
of  personal  piety,  also,  he  sought  preparation 
for  the  great  work  before  him.  He  observed 
seasons  of  fasting  and  prayer,  and  derived 
much  benefit  from  relisfious  conversation  with 

O 

a  few  intimate  friends.  To  him  the  "  Confer- 
ence Meetings"  were  very  profitable,  and  very 
precious.  In  his  letters  he  made  frequent 
reference  to  these.  He  learned  much  of  Jesus 
and  much  of  himself  in  those  "family  gather- 
ings;" the  professors  addressing  the  students 
with  the  tenderness  of  parental  love,  dwelling 
in  simple,  earnest  utterances  on  the  great 
themes  of  Christian  experience,  the  fulness  of 
Christ,  and  duty  to  the  Master. 

Very  little  occurs  in  a  student's  life  to  dis- 
turb the  "even  tenor  of  his  way,"  and  Mr. 
Thom  adhered  so  closely  to  the  routine  of 
Seminary  duty,  that  to  record  the  labors  of  a 
week,  would  be  to  present  a  miniature  photo- 
graph of  his  entire  course.  The  remainder  of 
the  chapter  will  be  chiefly  occupied  with 
letters,  which  reveal  the  fervor  of  his  piety, 
and  his  healthful  growth  in  the  Divine  life. 
9* 


102  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

On  a  day  set  apart  for  fasting  and  prayer,  he 
writes  to  a  friend:  "I  am  endeavoring  to 
approach  the  throne  of  grace  in  my  own 
behalf  to-day,  that  God  would  fit  me  for  the 
work  of  the  ministry.  I  wish  you  could 
unite  in  concert  with  me;  but  it  is  now  too 
late  for  that.  O,  I  need,  so  much,  more  grace, 
and  devotion,  and  love!  I  know,  my  friend, 
that  you  pray  for  me,  but  I  am  afraid  that, 
well  as  you  know  me,  you  think  me  much 
better  than  I  am,  and  so  cannot  really  adapt 
your  prayers  to  my  case.  I  am  very  sinful. 
God  only  knows,  and  He  only  can  remedy, 
my  wickedness.  O,  pray  continually  all  these 
weeks,  and  months,  and  years,  that  I  may  be 
more  and  more  furnished  for  every  good 
work.  I  am  every  day  more  and  more  im- 
pressed with  the  feeling  that  mere  human 
strength  can  never  avail  me  anything.  'AH 
my  strength  must  come  from  God.'  ...  It  is  a 
reflection  of  no  ordinary  solemnity,  that  I  sit 
daily  in  the  halls  where  Alexander  and  Miller 
taught,  and  live  in  the  rooms  whose  walls 
have  been  hallowed  by  the  prayers  of  Walter 


KEV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  103 

Lowrie  and  kindred  spirits,  who  have  gone  to 
their  reward.  0!  that  the  same  Spirit  which 
breathed  upon  them,  might  be  infused  into  me, 
making  me  a  'temple  of  God.'  ...  I  have  just 
returned  from  prayer-meeting,  a  precious  and 
solemn  meeting." 

A  college  acquaintance  had  entered  the 
ministry  before  him,  and  was  laboring  with 
much  success  in  one  of  the  western  States. 
Intelligence  was  received,  by  a  fellow-student, 
of  a  precious  work  of  grace  in  progress  in  the 
young  pastor's  charge.  With  Mr.  Thom  it 
was  a  time  of  thanksgiving.  "Blessed  be  His 
holy  name."  He  thus  writes  to  a  dear  friend : 
"You  of  course  have  heard  of  the  revival  at 

M .     A  friend   here   has  just  received  a 

letter  from  Mr.  B ,  giving  an  account  of  it. 

On  coming  to  the  church  on  Sabbath,  he 
could  scarcely  enter,  because  of  the  crowd  at 
the  door.  When  he  had  gained  admittance  to 
the  church,  he  found  the  aisles,  pulpit-stairs, 
and  even  the  pulpit,  full  of  people,  and  a  most 
powerful  work  seemed  going  on — some  fifty, 
at  that  date,  inquiring  the  way  to  Ziou.     O, 


104  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

what  a  day  seems  dawning!  In  our  prayer- 
meeting  for  Colleges,  this  morning,  three  were 
reported  as  being  greatly  blessed.  Every 
paper  brings  good  tidings,  and  our  hearts 
seem  to  be  responding,  I  felt  a  good  deal 
encouraged  this  morning,  and  then  at  noon, 

when  I  heard  of  the   revival   at  M my 

heart  was  melted.  .  .  .  Let  us,  though  separated, 
daily  pray  that  God's  kingdom  may  come. 
Pray  for  me,  that  in  due  time  utterance  may 
be  given  me  to  preach  the  infinite  love  of  God. 
I  feel,  more  and  more,  that  all  my  sufficiency 
is  of  God,  as  all  the  glory  must  be  His. 

"Monday  morning.  AVe  had  a  most  inter- 
esting conference  yesterday,  on  the  constraining 
love  of  Christ.  I  wish  I  could  tell  it  all  to  you. 
But  I  hope  you  know  better  from  your  own 
heart  than  any  one  could  tell  you,  what  the 
love  of  Christ  is.     It  passeth  knowledge." 

Soon  after,  he  was  rejoiced  to  hear  of  a  pre- 
cious revival  at  Canonsburg.  The  students  in 
the  Seminary,  who  were  graduates  of  Jefferson 
College,  met  every  Sabbath  morning  to  pray 
for  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  that 


REV.   JOHN   C.    THOM.  105 

institution.  Some  time  in  March,  1857,  Mr. 
Thom  received  cheering  news  from  his  Alma 
Mater,  and  rising  in  the  night,  lie  wrote  in 
thankful  strains  concerning  the  Lord's  doing, 
which  was  marvellous  in  his  eyes.  "It  is  half 
past  3  o'clock,  A.  M.,  but  I  cannot  sleep 
with  your  letter  before  me.  What  glad  tidings 
of  great  joy  it  contains !  My  poor,  weak  faith, 
was  not  prepared  for  such  intelligence.  Your 
previous  letter  contained  an  account  of  the 
communion  services,  and  no  unusual  interest 
then.  This  is  a  critical  and  most  interesting 
time.  O,  for  a  spipit  of  prayer !  0,  for  a  revi- 
val of  God's  work  in  our  own  hearts,  and  sucli 
a  revival  that  we  shall  never  grow  cold  again ! 
How  I  wish  we  could  meet  and  mingle  our 
prayers,  for  God  does  often  make  use  of  human 
sympathy  to  warm  the  fire  of  sacred,  divine 
love.  My  only  hope  is,  that  He  who  was 
touched  with  a  feeling  of  our  infirmities  will 
pity  my  weakness.  God  be  merciful  to  us,  and 
bless  us,  and  cause  His  face  to  shine  upon  us. 
I  trust  my  heart  is  a  little  revived,  but  my 
coldness  is  more  apparent  than  before.     Like 


106  MEMOIR    OF    THE 

one  coining  from  the  cold  air  to  a  heated 
atmosphere,  I  am  becoming  sensible  tliat  I  was 

much  chilled.     O,  pray  much  for  me I 

have  been  to  Trenton,  to  hear  Everett.  At 
another  time  I  would  have  had  much  to  tell 
you.  Now  I  am  thinking  of  something 
greater  than  Everett,  and  better  than  Wash- 
ino-ton." 

To  one  who  "walked  in  darkness,  and  saw 
no  light,"  he  addressed  wise  counsel  in  a  let- 
ter from  which  the  following  extract  is  taken : 
"You  know,  dear  friend,  as  well  as  I  do,  the 
sources  of  spiritual  happiness.  But,  may  it  not 
be,  we  both  sometimes  forget  what  God  has 
done  for  us?  It  is  true  there  is  much,  very 
much,  yet  to  be  done.  But  if  he  has  done  that 
which  is  greatest,  shall  we  not  thank  God,  and 
take  courage?  Instead  of  repining  because 
all  our  sins  are  not  overcome,  let  us  adore  that 
love  that  spared  not  the  Son  of  God,  and  when 
we  are  cast  down,  let  us  look  at  ourselves  only 
enough  to  feel  we  need  a  Saviour,  and  then  fly 

to  Him There  is  one  thing  more  which 

I  know  tends  to  keep  mc  away  from  Christ, 


EEV.    JOTIN   C.   TIIOM.  107 

and  perhaps  more  tlian  anything  else ;  that  is, 
resting  on  the  fact  tliat  He  died  for  sinners, 
without  clearly  feeling  that  He  died  for  me. 
And  yet  that  is  the  very  essence  of  faith.  O, 
if  we  could  see  Jesus  offering  Himself  for  us, 
surely  our  faith  would  work  by  love." 

Writing  to  another,  he  says:  "The  great 
subject  now  is  the  grand  celebration  in  New 
York,  in  honor  of  the  laying  of  the  Atlantic 
Cable,  the  largest  meeting  ever  held,  I  suppose, 
on  the  American  continent,  and  a  larger  one 
than  would  be  allowed  on  the  greater  part  of 
the  old  one.  The  only  way  I  have  heard  the 
people  estimated,  is  by  the  acre,  and  miles. 
Broadway,  for  nearly,  or  quite  four  miles,  was 
one  almost  impenetrable  mass,  the  crowd  sway- 
ing back  and  forth,  hour  after  hour.  O,  if  the 
cable  is  worth  so  much,  ichat  should  he  done  for 

one  soul! Had  a  long  letter  from  L.  C, 

who  thinks  my  greatest  temptation  is  to  pride. 
Perhaps  it  is.  God  forbid  that  I  should  glory 
in  anything  save  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  through  it  may  the  word  be  cruci- 
fied to  me,  and  I  unto  the  world." 


108  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

Whilst  at  Princeton,  Mr.  Thorn  made  direct 
efforts  for  the  conversion  of  sinners  around 
him.  He  taught  in  a  Sabbath-school,  and 
occasionally  conducted  a  service  for  the  colored 
people.  He  also  visited  neglected  places  in 
the  vicinity  of  Princeton,  and  sought  opportu- 
nities of  addressing  perishing  souls  on  the  sub- 
ject of  personal  religion. 

Speaking  to  one,  of  his  earnest  desire  to  have 
his  armor  on,  and  all  his  energies  directly 
given  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  he  said,  "It 
is  a  consummation  I  devoutly  wish,  and  yet  I 
shrink  back  from  it.  I  can  scarcely  analyze 
my  feelings.  But  I  feel  it  is  a  dreadful  thing 
to  stand  between  the  living  and  the  dead.  If 
it  be  shrinking  from  duty,  may  God  forgive 
me:  if  a  true  sense  of  my  unworthiness,  may 
He  grant  me  more  grace  and  faith." 

At  another  time,  writing  to  a  friend,  he 
regretfully  refers  to  causes  which  had  kept 
him  back  from  his  profession.  He  could 
scarcely  keep  from  repining  at  a  destiny  which 
had  robbed  him  of  his  youth,  and  burdened 
his  manhood  with  an  almost  crushing  load  of 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  '    109 

care.  But  he  endeavored  to  calm  his  mind  by 
the  reflection  that  God  does  all  things  well, 
and  that  all  his  trials  would  be  blessed  to  his 
greater  fitness  for  the  ministry.  And  it  is  no 
doubt  a  fact,  that  those  four  years  of  labor  as  a 
teacher,  were  not  only  3^ears  of  usefulness,  but 
did  go  far  to  develope  those  traits  of  character 
which  made  him  eminent  as  a  pastor,  and  suc- 
cessful as  a  preacher. 

Whilst  engaged  in  teaching,  he  anticipated 
some  of  the  studies  of  tlie  theological  course, 
and  remained  in  the  Seminary  only  two  years. 
During   the   holiday- vacation    of   the    second 
session,  in  January,  1859,  he  was  licensed  to 
preach  the  gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  Salts- 
burg,  at  Leechburg,  Pennsylvania.    His  extra- 
ordinary endowments  of  every  kind  for  minis- 
terial  efl&ciency,    and   his   remarkable   pulpit 
power,  early  developed,  and  so  highly  matured, 
were  not  matters  of  surprise  to  the  members  of 
Presbytery  who    had  known  him    intimately 
for  years.     All  predicted  for  the  young  licen- 
tiate  a    ministry  of  great   usefulness.     After 
licensure  he  returned  to   the   Seminary,  and 
10 


110  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

devoted  himself  with  increased  earnestness  to 
stud}^,  during  the  remainder  of  the  session.    To 
a  friend,  who  urged  him  to  take  a  season  of 
recreation,   fearing   the   results  of   the    close 
application  to   Seminary  duties,    he  said,    "  I 
look   for   no   rest   this   side    of    the    grave." 
Before  the  close  of  the  session  he   received 
several  calls  to  vacant  churches.     One,  to  a 
southern  state,  presented  special  inducements 
in  the  way  of  worldly  comfort,  but  he  felt  con- 
strained to  decline  it,  feeling  that  there  were 
other  fields  of  labor  where  he  was  more  needed, 
and  might  be  more  useful.     He  was  also  in- 
vited to  take  a  prominent  charge  in  the  west, 
and  this  he  felt  strongly  inclined  to  accept. 
At  one  time  he  had  seriously  considered  the 
question  of  going  to  a  foreign  field,  but  he  pre- 
sently found  insuperable  barriers  in  the  way, 
and  yielded  to  the  force  of  what  were  then 
very  sad  and  trying  providences.     And  now 
that  he  must  labor  in  some  part  of  his  own 
country,  he  preferred  a  missionary  field  in  the 
west.      He  would  plant  the  standard  of   the 
cross  on  the  borders  of  the  wilderness,  and  aid 


REV.   JOfIN   C.   THOM.  Ill 

the  worn  and  weary  men  who  toiled  for  Jesus 
in  regions  "  near  the  sunset." 

Then  came  an  urgent  call  from  the  church 
at  Waynesburg,  Pennsylvania.  At  first  he 
entertained  scarcely  a  thought  of  accepting  it. 
Not  that  he  was  unwilling  to  cross  the  deep 
yearnings  of  his  heart  to  go  to  a  far  differ- 
ent field,  but  he  was  not  satisfied  that  the 
Head  of  the  Church  would  have  him  occupy  a 
position  which  so  many  others  were  willing  to 
fill,  whilst  there  were  destitutions  where  the 
call  for  ministerial  labor  seemed  so  much 
louder.  He  submitted  the  matter  to  the  Lord, 
and  waited  further  revelations  of  the  Master's 
will.  At  length  the  indications  of  Providence 
pointed  clearly  to  Waynesburg.  All  anxious 
questionings  as  to  duty  were  answered,  and 
before  he  left  the  Seminary  he  announced  his 
acceptance  of  the  call,  so  unexpectedly  and 
earnestly  pressed  upon  him.  "The  steps  of  a 
good  man  are  ordered  by  the  Lord :  and  he 
delighteth  in  his  way." 

In  this  connection  we  introduce  a  letter,  writ- 
ten by  Eev.  Eobert  Strong,  of  Albany,  N.  Y., 


112  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

an  intimate  friend  of  our  deceased  brother. 
Mr.  Strong  was,  for  a  short  time,  pastor  of  the 
Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  in  Minne- 
apolis, Minnesota.  This  statement  will  explain 
the  latter  part  of  his  letter. 

"Mr.  Thom  entered  the  Seminary  at  Prince- 
ton at  the  same  time  I  entered,  in  1857.  I  was 
early  attracted  to  him  by  his  friendliness  and 
kindliness,  and  as  our  acquaintance  deepened 
with  familiar  intercourse,  I  prized  his  friend- 
ship more  and  more.  He  was  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  the  class,  above  the  average  in 
abilities,  and  far  above  in  mature  disciplined 
Christian  character.  After  he  had  graduated 
at  College,  (Jefierson,  I  think,)  he  spent  sev- 
eral years  in  teaching,  not  with  a  view  of 
delaying  his  entrance  into  the  ministry,  nor  as 
a  partial  preparation  to  it,  but  with  the  sole 
view,  as  I  understood  him,  of  enabling  him  to 
pass  through  the  Seminary  independently, 
unaided  either  by  loans  or  by  grants  from  the 
Board  of  Education,  He  could  not  submit 
himself  to  dependence  or  to  charity.  We  had 
many  a  friendly  debate  together  as  to  whether 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  113 

such  a  course  is  generally  right,  and  whether 
men  who  have  given  themselves  wholly  to  the 
Church  of  God,  ought  not  to  thankfully  receive 
every  aid  that  will  hasten  the  period  of  active 
usefulness,  or  enlarge  it.  If  he  made  a  mistake 
here,  it  was  the  mistake  of  a  strong  character ; 
not  underrating  the  loving  provision  of  the 
Church,  but  despising  a  mean  or  unnecessary 
dependence  upon  it.  I  do  not  think  it  was  a 
pride  to  be  condemned,  for  it  partook  of  the 
spirit  which  led  St.  Paul  to  labor  with  his  own 
hands,  'that  he  might  not  be  chargeable  ^to 
any,'  though  at  the  same  time  counting  him- 
self a  'servant  for  Jesus'  sake.' 

"  Having  this  spirit,  the  years  spent  in  teach- 
ing did  not  in  the  least  lessen  his  earnest  look 
toward  the  ministry.  He  made  them  as  truly 
years  of  preparation  as  if  they  had  been  spent 
in  the  Seminary,  pursuing  the  same  studies 
and  courses  of  reading,  and  looking  as  directly 
to  the  end.  The  result  was,  that  he  entered 
the  Seminary  in  1857,  with  his  earnestness  and 
resolution  tested  by  the  delay  he  had  enforced 
on  himself,  able  to  sustain  himself  unaided, 
10* 


114  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

with  superior  preparation,  direct  purpose,  and 
a  character  trained  and  strong. 

"  I  do  not  think  Mr.  Thorn  was  fully  appre- 
ciated in  the  Seminary.  His  standard  was  too 
high  for  many,  his  honest  nature  revolted  at 
anything  like  meanness  or  false  shame,  and  he 
was  often  pained  by  low  estimates  of  the  sacred 
ministry,  and  of  full  consecration  to  Christ. 
He  was  not  solitary,  nor  in  tlie  least  censorious, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  kind,  sympathetic,  and 
genial,  in  a  marked  degree,  yet  he  walked  and 
thought  above  the  mass.  Those  only  could 
appreciate  him  whom  he  specially  liked,  and 
to  whom  he  would  unfold  himself.  I  spent 
many  evenings  with  him  in  his  room,  in  long 
conversations  and  reading,  and  it  was  there  I 
found  him  out,  manly,  strong-hearted,  proud 
to  a  fault,  warm-hearted,  gentle  as  a  woman, 
with  a  mind  well  stored  and  well  trained,  earn- 
est in  devotion,  and  a  real  lover  of  the  Saviour. 
I  saw  then  that  he  had  great  capabilities  as  a 
preacher,  a  ready  utterance,  power  and  warmth. 
In  his  Seminary  exercises  he  evidently  re- 
pressed his  warmth,  as  if  unduly  careful  to  be 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  115 

right  in  what  he  said.  But  the  glow  of  a 
warm  heart  was  not  to  be  concealed,  and  it 
must  have  been  the  source  of  his  power  after- 
wards. 

"After  we  both  left  the  Seminary,  our  cor- 
respondence was  interrupted  by  niuiual  cares. 
I  much  regret  now  that,  on  account  of  frequent 
removals,  ray  letters  of  those  days  have  been 
all  destroyed.  The  last  time  I  heard  from  him 
was  in  1863,  in  response  to  an  invitation  to 
take  charge  of,  and  oversee,  our  mission  work 
in  Minnesota,  as  Synodical  Missionary.  He 
replied,  that  he  would  like  to  come  west,  and 
that  he  thought  such  a  position  would  meet  all 
his  desires,  but  that  the  circumstances  of  his 
church  at  Waynesburg  would  not  permit  his 
leaving  at  that  time.  He  promised,  however, 
to  take  it  into  more  mature  and  prayerful  con- 
sideration. We  were  much  disappointed  when 
he  wrote  again,  that,  though  his  desires  were 
with  us,  the  way  was  not  clear.  Had  he  been 
able  to  come,  he  would  have  left  his  mark  on 
the  state  and  on  all  our  churches. 

"His  sudden  death,  after  his  removal  to  St. 


116  MEMOIR   OK   THE 

Louis,  was  a  great  loss  to  our  Church  in  the 
west,  greater  even  than  it  was  generally 
counted.  Only  those  that  knew  him  best, 
could  appreciate  the  work  he  was  fitted  to  do. 
"We  can  only  console  ourselves  with  the  old 
comfort,  old  but  never  worn,  that  God  loves 
the  Church  and  souls  better  than  we  do,  and 
His  servants  and  children  can  trust  Him." 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  117 


CHAPTER    VII. 

LAHORS    AT    WAYXESBURG,    rEXNSYLVANIA. 

Leaving  the  Seminary,  he  went  at  once  to  the 
field  of  labor  to  which  he  had  been  called,  and 
at  a  meeting  of  the  Donegal  Presbytery,  held 
at  Waynesburg,  May  19,  1859,  he  was  re- 
ceived, ordained,  and  installed  pastor  of  the 
Waynesburg  Church.  That  was  to  him  a  day 
of  solemn  interest;  a  day  of  thanksgiving  to 
Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,  who  had  enabled  him, 
for  that  he  counted  him  faithful,  putting  him 
into  the  ministry.  At  the  same  time  he  was 
oppressed  with  a  sense  of  fearful  responsibility. 
Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things?  Surely, 
he  said,  "Except  the  Lord  build  the  house, 
they  labor  in  vain  that  build  it.  Except  the 
Lord  keep  the  city,  the  watchman  waketb  but 
in  vain,"  What  shall  be  the  results  of  the 
relation  just  formed?  How  man}'-  souls  shall 
be  saved  through  his  agency  ?  or  lost  through 


118  MEMOIK    OF   THE 

his  unfaithfulness?  He  invokes  a  fresh  bap- 
tism of  the  Holy  Spirit,  puts  on  his  armor,  and 
trusting  in  Jesus  only,  he  goes  forth  to  the 
work  of  faith  and  labor  of  love. 

He  first  took  a  survey  of  the  field  he  was 
to  cultivate,  and  endeavored  to  make  himself 
acquainted  with  the  spiritual  condition  of  the 
church,  that  he  might  adapt  himself  to  the 
necessities  of  the  people,  and  wisely  mature 
his  plans  of  operation.  The  congregation 
extended  over  a  territory  of  ten  square  miles. 
Pastoral  visiting  claims  attention.  The  labor 
will  be  great  and  exhausting,  but  the  necessity 
is  absolute,  and  he  entered  upon  it.  One  of 
his  people  wrote,  "Our  minister  has  a  will  and 
resolution  which  yield  to  nothing  short  of 
impossibilities." 

He  soon  came  to  know  all  the  families  of 
his  widely  extended  charge;  could  call  nearly 
every  child  by  name,  and  learned  something 
of  the  religious  history  of  the  majority  of  his 
people.  "Well  do  I  remember,"  wrote  a  good 
woman,  "his  first  visit  to  my  home.  His 
great   care    seemed   to   be   for   our    spiritual 


REV.   JOHN    C.    THOM.  119 

interests.  I  had  two  little  children :  he  took 
each  of  them  by  tlie  hand,  and  told  them  of 
Jesus,  who  said,  'Suffer  little  children  to  come 
unto  me.'  He  then  led  us  all  to  the  mercy- 
seat,  and  commended  us  to  the  care  of  our 
covenant-keeping  God.  How  it  bound  us  to 
him !  The  burden  of  his  prayers  always  was 
for  the  salvation  of  souls,  and  his  solemn, 
earnest  manner,  could  scarcely  fail  to  impress 
the  heart  of  an  unconverted  person." 

It  was  not  a  matter  of  surprise  that  strong 
bonds  of  sympathy  and  affection  soon  united 
the  pastor  and  his  flock.  He  early  wrote  of 
his  love  to  his  church,  and  was  thankful  for 
evidences  of  healthful  piety  in  many  house- 
holds. "They  are  so  kind  and  considerate, 
and  above  all,  they  seem  to  have  the  spirit  of 
prayer,  and  consecration  to  Jesus."  But  in 
some  households  there  was  no  recognition  of 
God  in  family  prayer,  and  some  who  had  run 
well  had  been  hindered.  There  was  not  a 
little  to  distress,  if  not  to  discourage,  the 
ardent  pastor.  But  it  was  a  time  for  work; 
faithful,    earnest,   affectionate   work, — and    he 


120  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

set  about  it.  The  spiritual  diagnosis  sug- 
gested the  remedies.  lie  soon  established 
four  weekly  prayer-meetings  in  difi'erent  parts 
of  the  congregation,  attending  them  alternately 
two  evenings  of  each  week,  and  secured  elders, 
or  other  members  of  the  church,  to  conduct 
the  services  on  the  evenings  of  his  absence. 
In  addition  to  these,  he  had  the  regular 
prayer-meeting  in  the  church,  which  was 
attended  by  the  families  residing  in,  and  near 
the  village.  At  the  several  points  in  the 
country,  to  which  we  have  referred,  he  also 
held  afternoon  services  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
thus  he  carried  the  gospel  to  many  families 
who  had  previously  lived  without  it.  He  also 
taught  a  Bible-class,  which  met  in  the  church 
before  the  Sabbath  morning  service.  He 
devoted  much  time  to  his  preparations,  and 
the  instruction  imparted  on  these  occasions 
were  blessed  to  not  a  few.  He  was  a  patient 
teacher,  and  condescended  to  the  capacities  of 
the  humblest;  going  over  the  oft  repeated 
lesson,  sweetly  pressing  Jesus  on  the  accept- 
ance of  the  young,  and  solemnly  warning  them 


REV.   JOHN   0,   THOM.  121 

of  the  consequences  of  unbelief.  lie  was  wont 
to  say:  "The  word  of  God  will  not  return 
unto  Him  void,  and  He  who  gave  you  this 
glorious  gospel  will  be  glorified,  whether  you 
reject  or  receive  His  gracious  message." 

The  Sabbath- schools  were  frequently  visited, 
and  he  usually  addressed  the  children  in 
loving,  earnest  words.  A  number  of  family 
altars  were  erected  through  his  efforts.  He 
assisted  some  of  the  young  married  members, 
by  going  to  their  houses  soon  after  they 
entered  them,  and  kindling  the  fire  upon  their 
altar,  urging  them,  "so  affectionately  and 
earnestly,"  never  to  let  that  fire  go  out.  It 
grieved  him  to  learn  that  in  some  cases  his 
efforts  in  behalf  of  fiimily  religion  were 
attended  with  but  very  little  fruit. 

Parental  responsibility  was  pressed  home 
with  great  solemnity.  One  said,  "I  used  to 
feel  under  his  preaching  that  it  was  a  fearful 
thing  to  be  a  parent."  To  a  burdened  mother, 
who  had  been  much  affected  by  his  teachings 
on  the  subject  of  the  religious  training  of 
children,  he  said:  "To  feel  our  own  insuffi- 
11 


122  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

ciency  for  these  things,  brings  us  close  to  the 
cross,  and  surely  if  you  can  trust  Jesus  with 
your  own  salvation,  you  can  trust  him  with 
the  salvation  of  the  children  He  has  given 
you.  Do  your  duty,  and  remind  God  of  His 
covenant." 

The  first  months  of  his  ministry  were 
marked  by  a  special  reviving  in  the  church. 
He  lifted  the  standard  of  piety  high,  dealt 
faithfully  with  those  who  lived  in  neglect  of 
Christian  duties,  and  were  sadly  conformed  to 
the  world.  One  who  heard  him  preach  for 
the  first  time,  probably  six  months  after  his 
settlement,  thought  there  was  too  much 
severity  in  his  preaching,  and  ventured  to 
suggest  a  change,  at  the  same  time  referring 

to   the  wonderful   power  of  Dr.  P ,  who 

was  accustomed  to  give  much  prominence  to 
the  gentleness  of  Jesus,  and  the  sweet  attrac- 
tions of  the  cross.  Mr.  Thom  replied,  that  he 
had  discovered  many  in  his  church  who  were 
wrapped  in  a  mantle  of  self-satisfiiction,  and 
their  estimate  of  themselves,  he  said,  njust  be 
corrected.     They  answered  to  the  description 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  123 

given  of  the  Laodicean  church,  and  it  was  not 
the  time  to  preach  pleasant  things,  however 
much  he  and  others  might  enjoy  the  presenta- 
tion of  tlie  precious  things  of  God.  The 
sequel  proved  that  he  was  right.  There  was 
much  searching  of  heart,  conviction  of  worldli- 
ness,  repentance  of  sin,  and  some  turned  unto 
the  Lord,  who  had  been  content  with  a  mere 
name  to  live.  "  We  had  got  to  think,"  said 
one,  who  had  long  been  a  member  of  the 
church,  "that  it  was  an  easy  thing  to  get  to 
heaven."  They  had  lost  sight  of  the  Saviour's 
declaration:  "If  any  man  will  be  my  disciple, 
let  him  deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross, 
and  follow  me."  Now  thoy  begin  to  realize 
that  without  cross-bearing,  there  can  be  no 
crown- wearing.  Said  a  good  elder,  "Mr. 
Thom's  people  cannot  listen  long  to  his 
preaching  without  being  able  to  determine 
whether  they  are  Christians  or  not."  And 
tlien  many  were  heard  asking,  with  much 
anxiety  of  mind, 

"  Do  I  love  the  Lord  or  no. 
Am  I  His.  or  am  I  not?" 


124  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

Soon  after,  there  were  indications  of  great 
seriousness  among  non-professors.  The  meet- 
ings for  preaching  and  prayer  were  multi- 
plied, and  protracted  as  long  as  the  interest 
seemed  to  warrant.  At  this  time  a  considera- 
ble number  expressed  hope  in  Christ.  The 
communion  service  was  delayed  for  a  season 
that  these  persons  might  have  time  for  self- 
examination,  and  about  forty-five  persons  were 
added  unto  the  church,  of  such,  we  trust,  as 
shall  be  saved.  Some  of  these  were  heads  of 
families.  Parents  came  with  their  children, 
and  were  baptized  together.  Young  men  con- 
secrated themselves  to  Christ,  and  proved  val- 
uable accessions  to  the  church.  Thus  God 
early  set  the  seal  of  his  approbation  upon  the 
pastor's  labors,  and  new  ties  were  formed, 
binding  preacher  and  people  in  Christian 
love  and  effort, — ties  which  grew  continually 
stronger. 

A  few  cases  of  interest  in  connection  with 
this  revival  may  be  mentioned.  There  was 
one  who  attended  the  services  in  the  church, 
and  seemed  to  be  under  religious  impressions; 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  125 

a  quiet,  useful  citizen,  subdued  by  affliction, 
and  respected  by  all.  The  sympathies  of  the 
pastor  were  drawn  toward  this  man,  and  he 
sought  opportunities  of  manifesting  his  inte- 
rest in  his  spiritual  welfare.  One  week-day, 
on  his  way  to  the  church,  Mr.  Thorn  overtook 
this  man,  who  was  carrying  several  packages. 
He  proposed  to  relieve  him  of  a  part  of  his  load. 
The  man  thanked  him  for  his  kind  offer,  and 
added,  that  he  needed  help  to  bear  far  heavier 
burdens  than  those  in  his  hands.  Then,  after 
a  very  sad  conversation,  he  handed  the  minis- 
ter a  letter,  which,  he  said,  he  had  prepared  for 
him.  Mr.  Thorn  took  it  home,  and  wept  and 
prayed  over  it.  Never,  perhaps,  was  his  soul 
so  stirred  within  him  as  then,  and  for  days 
together  the  sad  wail  which  was  the  burden  of 
the  letter  was  sounding  in  his  ears:  "No  man 
careth  for  my  soul."  That  man  had  lived  out 
more  than  half  the  period  allotted  to  human 
life.  He  had  associated  with  professing  Chris- 
tians for  many  years,  had  attended  frequently, 
if  not  regularly,  upon  the  public  services  of 
the  church,  and  yet  had  never  been  addressed 
11^ 


126  MEMOIR    ..'F   THE 

on  the  su'oject  of  personal  religion.  Sucli 
cases  are  doubtless  exceptional,  and  there  may 
have  been  something  peculiar  in  this  man's 
history,  but  this  instance  of  unfaithfulness  on 
the  part  of  God's  people  was  startling  and 
humiliating.  "Let  him  that  heareth  say, 
Come." 

A  lady  of  intelligence,  high  social  position, 
and  much  influence  in  the  community,  was 
brought  to  feel  her  need  of  Christ.  She  was 
urged  to  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  at  once. 
She  did  not  disguise  the  exercises  of  her  mind, 
which  disclosed  a  most  critical  condition.  Her 
pastor  was  deeply  concerned  and  anxious.  At 
length  she  yielded  to  King  Jesus,  and  her  con- 
secration was  entire.  Henceforth  her  home, 
like  that  of  the  holy  family  in  Bethany,  was 
ever  open  to  the  visits  of  the  Heavenly  Friend, 
and  His  sweet  words,  "Peace  be  to  this  house," 
brought  with  them  light  and  gladness  all  un- 
known before. 

Another  was  a  member  of  the  church:  per- 
haps she  had  never  been  born  again.  During 
this    season    of    religious    interest    she    was 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM,  127 

awakened  to  a  sense  of  clanger.  Tier  sins 
pressed  heavily  upon  her.  She  walked  in 
darkness,  and  saw  no  light.  Her  distress  in- 
creased, day  by  day.  Mr.  Thom  was  instinc- 
tively drawn  to  her,  learned  her  condition,  and 
then  pointed  out  the  way  of  life  so  plainly, 
presented  the  sweet  promises  of  the  gospel  so 
clearly,  that  the  burdened  soul  saw  the  cross, 
hastened  to  it,  and  laid  all  her  sins  on  Jesus, 
the  spotless  Lamb  of  God. 

These  may  be  taken  as  representative  cases. 
There  are  volumes  of  unwritten  history,  which, 
if  opened  to  the  view  of  the  church,  would 
reveal  the  untiring  vigilance,  the  patient  toil, 
the  tender  faithfulness  of  the  pastor.  The 
judgment-day  alone  will  disclose  it  fully. 

At  that  time  the  church  in  Waynesburg  was 
like  Gideon's  fleece,  bedewed  Avith  the  gently 
distilling  grace  of  God,  when,  all  around,  the 
earth  was  dry ;  or  like  an  oasis  in  the  desert, 
watered  and  verdant,  whilst  silent  barren 
sands  stretched  out  on  every  hand.  Again 
there  were  seasons  when  other  churches  were 
more    abundantly   refreshed,    and    the    sove- 


128  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

reignty  of  God  was  mauifested.     "Even    so, 
Father,  for  so  it  seemeth  good  in  thy  sight." 

In  his  first  anniversary  sermon  he  makes  a 
grateful  record  of  the  Lord's  doing  among  the 
people.  Allusion  was  made  to  the  labors  of 
his  predecessor,*  who  was  greatly  beloved  by 
all  the  people,  the  fruits  of  whose  labors  were 
being  gathered,  and  the  people  were  called 
upon  to  praise  the  Lord,  who  had  visited  them 
with  His  salvation,  and  made  the  place  of  His 
feet  glorious. 

This  year  he  had  made  nearly  four  hundred 
visits  for  conversation  and  prayer,  beside 
many  visits  to  the  sick  and  dying.  He  had 
preached  and  lectured  over  four  hundred 
times,  and  had  spent  much  time  with  inquirers, 
and  yet  lamented  that  he  had  not  been  able  to 
labor  more. 

During  that  year  of  refreshing,  death  had 
been  very  busy  in  the  church.  The  message, 
"Prepare  to  meet  thy  God,"  came  from  nearly 
a  score  of  new  made  graves,  and  some  of  the 
flock  had  gone  to  the  greener  pastures  of  the 

»  Rev.  William  W.  Latta. 


REV.    JOHN   C.   THOM.  129 

Better  Land.  "Sweet  friends!"  said  the 
pastor,  "we  hope  to  meet  them  in  heaven." 
Then  were  suggested  some  thoughts  conceru- 
ing  the  sorrows  of  this  changeful  life,  and  the 
eternal  quiet  of  the  skies.  "As  I  occupy  the 
place  of  him  who  is  gone,  so  another  shall 
soon  stand  in  mine.  I  shall  be  forgotten,  and 
all  the  generations  to  come  shall  remember  me 
no  more.  We  all  must  go  to  the  land  of 
silence  and  forgetfulness,  and  others  shall 
worship  in  our  room.  But  in  the  church 
above,  there  shall  be  no  sundering  of  holy, 
happy  ties.  When  we  enter  the  temple  on 
high,  we  shall  be  pillars  in  the  temple  of  our 
God,  and  go  no  more  out."  Little,  perhaps, 
did  he  or  they  suppose,  on  that  first  anniver- 
sary day,  that  so  soon  the  pastor  would  be 
taken,  that  pulpit  occupied  by  another,  and 
these,  his  spiritual  children,  lamenting,  "Alas, 
my  father!" 

In  a  later  anniversary  sermon,  he  referred 
with  gratitude  to  the  results  of  Christian  labor, 
to  the  efibrts  of  Sabbath-school  teachers,  espe- 
cially of  the  female  teachers,  to  induce   ne- 


130  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

glected  children  to  attend  the  Sabbath-school; 
to  the  faithfulness  of  different  members,  young 
men  and  others,  who  sustained  prayer-meet- 
ings, and  secured  the  attendance  of  the  care- 
less; to  the  Christian  bravery  with  which 
many  had  taken  up  arms  for  Christ,  in  public 
and  in  private;  to  the  consecration  of  worldly 
substance  to  Him  who  says  of  the  gold  and 
silver,  "It  is  mine;"  and  to  the  Christian 
meekness  with  which  the  people  had  received 
the  rebukes  and  admonitions  of  their  pastor, 
administered  in  love,  and  for  their  good. 
"For  all  these  things,"  said  he,  "I  am  glad, 
and  I  thank  God  for  you  always,  making 
mention  of  you  continually  in  my  prayers." 

It  was  in  the  early  part  of  his  first  year  at 
"Waynesburg,  that  one  of  the  elders  of  the 
church  (J.  B.)  was  called  to  his  eternal  rest. 
He  was  constant  in  his  attentions  to  the  dying 
man,  who  was  much  of  the  time  in  great  dark- 
ness, induced,  doubtless,  by  physical   causes. 

Mr.  B was  a  good  man,  full  of  the  Holy 

Ghost,  and  of  faith.  His  life  had  exhibited  the 
power  of  Divine   grace,  and   the   beauties  of 


UEV.    JOHN    C.   THOM.  131 

holiness,  so  clearly,  that  none  who  knew  him 
questioned  his  mcetness  for  heaven.  It  was 
not  lonsj  until  God  brouo^ht  him  out  of  the 
darkness,  and  glory  beamed  upon  the  dying 
saint.  One  day,  the  light  of  heaven  resting 
on  his  face,  he  said  to  his  pastor,  as  he  entered 
the  death-chamber,  "Have  you  come  to  rejoice 
with  me,  because  I  have  found  Him  whom  my 
soul  loveth?"  The  latter  sat  down  and  wept. 
Those  w^ere  tears  of  mingled  joy  and  sorrow: 
of  joy,  that  in  the  experience  of  the  beloved 
elder  the  faithfulness  of  God  was  manifested, 
since  at  evening  time  it  was  light:  of  sorrow, 
that  one  so  endeared  to  him  by  his  beautiful 
Christian  character,  and  so  fitted  to  counsel 
and  encourage  the  young  pastor,  was  about  to 
be  taken.  The  following  record  refers  to  the 
deceased  elder.  "I  am  much  exhausted  with 
fatigue  and  excitement.  For  the  last  few  days 
I  have  been  seeing  glory  begun  below.  Bless 
the  Lord,  0  my  soul !  And  yet  I  weep,  for  I 
shall  see  his  face  no  more.'' 

About  this  time,  June  9,  1857,  the  young 
minister    was    married    to    Miss    Jennie    M. 


132  MEMOIR  OF  THE 

Bracken,  of  Canonsburg,  Pennsylvania.  They 
were  both  cordially  received  into  the  family  of 

Mr.  W.  B ,  a  brother  of  the  deceased  elder. 

The  generous  hospitality  of  that  home,  en- 
joyed for  a  year,  was  never  forgotten.  No 
chill,  like  untimely  September  frosts,  ever  fell 
upon  the  pastor's  affection  for  that  loved  and 
loving  household.  It  was  a  pleasant  reflec- 
tion to  him,  that  Christian  kindness  shall  be 
rewarded  here,  and  in  the  life  to  come.  "In- 
asmuch as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the 
least  of  these,  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it 
unto  me." 

Mr.  Thom  was  very  attentive  to  the  be- 
reaved. He  told  his  people  that  when  they 
were  well  and  exempt  from  trials,  they  must 
allow  him  to  pass  by  their  homes,  that  he 
might  devote  more  of  his  time  to  God's  sor- 
rowing ones.  There  are  many  who  remember 
his  kind  and  encouraging  words,  addressed  to 
them  in  affliction.  By  not  a  few,  they  will 
doubtless  be  heard  in  years  to  come,  reaching 
them  across  the  intervening  time,  and  lighten- 
ing   their    burdened    hearts,    long    after   the 


REV.   JOHN   C.   TIIOM.  133 

tongne  which  uttered  them  was  silenced  in 
death.  To  a  mother,  whom  he  met  at  the  door 
of  her  darkened  home,  he  said,  "God  loved 
Mary,  and  He  has  taken  her  to  Himself. 
There  is  comfort  in  this.  Then  remember 
that  you  have  Christ  still. 

'He  never  takes  away  our  all, 
Himself  He  gives  us  still.'  " 

Then  they  went  together  to  Jesus  and  told 
Him  all.  The  Lord  comforted  the  bereaved 
parent,  and  enabled  her  to  say,  "  Thy  will  be 
done."  Very  many  similar  instances  might 
be  mentioned,  for  there  were  but  few  families 
that  were  not  called  to  endure  like  affliction. 

The  poor  were  specially  bound  to  him.  He 
not  only  sympathized  with  them;  he  contri- 
buted to  their  necessities.  He  often  gave  the 
last  dollar  to  some  needy  sufferer.  One  who 
rode  with  him  along  a  by-way,  overheard 
some  children  of  poverty,  who,  ashamed  of 
their  rags,  endeavored  to  conceal  themselves, 
say,  "there  is  the  good  man  who  gave  us 
money."  He  often  urged  kind  and  prompt, 
12 


134  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

attentions  to  such,  and  believed  no  church 
would  be  blessed  which  had  none  of  God's 
poor  in  its  communion.  lie  induced  a  num- 
ber of  people  who  lived  in  humble  homes,  to 
come  to  the  house  of  God.  Through  his  word 
some  believed  in  Christ,  and  are  to-day 
journeying  toward  everlasting  habitations,  or 
have  already  entered  them.  "Blessed  is  he 
that  considereth  the  poor.  The  Lord  will 
deliver  him  in  time  of  trouble."  Psalm  xli.  1. 
(Eead  James  ii.  1 — 5,  and  Prov.  xxii.  2.) 

He  did  not  confine  his  attentions  to  his  own 
people.  He  visited,  when  necessary,  the  poor 
and  afflicted  of  other  churches;  watching  with 
the  sick,  carrying  some  delicacy  to  tempt  the 
appetite,  and  by  affectionate  counsel,  joined  to 
expressions  of  sympathy,  he  lifted  the  burden 
from  aching  hearts. 

Then,  too,  he  was  often  called  from  home  to 
aid  his  brethren  in  the  ministry.  He  preached 
at  many  protracted  meetings  in  different  parts 
of  the  country,  and  never  failed  to  meet  an 
engagement,  no  matter  what  of  self-denial  it 
might  nost.     Then,  when  his  work  was  done. 


liblV.   JOH.V   C.   THOM.  185 

he  hastened  home,  to  resume,  with  increased 
fidelity  and  earnestness,  his  labors  among  his 
own  people. 

He  insisted  much  on  attention  to  strangers. 
Though  he  had  no  sympathy  with  that  selfish- 
ness which  would  make  everything  subser- 
vient to  one's  particular  church,  regardless  of 
the  claims  of  others,  yet  he  would  have  atten- 
tion shown  to  the  visitor  and  traveler,  and  a 
cordial  welcome  extended  to  unknown  persons 
who  came  to  his  church.  A  young  man,  who 
worshipped  in  another  church,  complained  to 
him  of  the  want  he  there  felt  of  sympathy  with 
the  stranger.  "It  seemed  to  me,"  he  said,  "as 
if  everybody  had  chartered  his  own  private  con- 
veyance to  heaven,  and  looked  out  at  me  over 
the  closed  door,  as  if  to  say,  '  if  you  want  to  go, 
provide  a  conveyance  for  yourself.' "  One 
reason  why  the  large  church  in  Waynesburg 
was  filled  on  almost  all  occasions  of  public 
worship,  was  because  of  the  courteous.  Chris- 
tian attention  to  the  "stranger  within  their 
gates."     Many  who  passed  that  way  felt  that  it 


136  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

would  be  well  if  all  our  cburcbes  would  emu- 
late so  worthy  an  example. 

He  felt,  and  manifested,  a  deep  interest  in 
young  men.  Several  are  now  in  the  ministry, 
or  in  course  of  preparation  for  it,  who  were 
brought  to  Christ  through  his  agency,  and  di- 
rected by  him  to  that  high  and  holy  vocation. 
.Poor  young  men,  who  struggled  upward  to 
higher  and  broader  fields  of  usefulness,  had  his 
warm  and  loving  sympathy.  He  sought  them 
out  in  their  discouragemients,  and  resorted  to 
many  expedients  to  inspire  them  with  faith 
and  hope.  Men  of  promise,  one  of  whom  is 
now  gone  to  a  far-off  mission  field,"^  have  said: 
"For  what  we  are,  and  all  we  hope  to  be,  we 
owe  more  to  Mr.  Thom,  so  far  as  human 
agency  is  concerned,  than  to  any  man  living, 
and  no  one  ever  exerted  upon  us  so  great  an 
influence  for  good  as  he."  His  memory  is  pre- 
cious to  them,  and  through  their  word,  he, 
being  dead,  yet  speaketh. 

His  tact  for  adapting  himself  to  all  people 
and  circumstances  was  very  remarkable.     The 

*  Rev.  E.  M.  Wherrv. 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  137 

humblest  and  the  lowliest  had  his  tenderest 
thoughts,  and  thej  carried  their  troubles  to 
him  with  childlike  confidence,  sure  of  sympa- 
thy, words  of  encouragement,  and  a  helping 
hand.  At  the  same  time  he  secured  the  esteem 
of  ministerial  brethren,  who  were  many  years 
his  seniors,  and  occupied  positions  of  the  high- 
est influence  in  the  church,  and  his  general 
intelligence  enabled  him  to  commune  with 
almost  every  class  of  literary  and  professional 
men.  His  versatility  of  talent  was  often  re- 
marked by  men  of  learning  and  discernment, 
and  was  exceeded  by  few  of  his  age. 

He  sought  opportunities  of  conversing  with 
the  unconverted  on  the  subject  of  personal 
religion,  and  sowed  beside  all  waters.  He 
made  it  a  rule  never  to  leave  a  fellow-traveler, 
or  one  with  whom  he  held  an  hour's  conver- 
sation at  a  hotel  or  watering-place,  without 
dropping  at  least  a  word  for  Christ.  Only 
eternity  will  reveal  the  results  of  such  efforts 
to  benefit  souls.  When  riding  over  the  many 
miles  embraced  in  his  parish,  or  going  to 
preach  in  some  neighboring  church,  he  would 
12* 


138  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

ask  the  traveler  along  the  dusty  way-side  to 
take  a  seat  beside  him  in  his  carriage,  and  if 
he  discovered  that  the  stranger  was  without 
God  and  hope  in  the  world,  he  would  tell  him 
of  the  way  which  led  from  the  city  of  destruc- 
tion to  the  Celestial  City,  and  urge  him  to 
enter  it  at  once. 

Sometimes  his  anxiety  concerning  the  un- 
converted in  his  congregation  was  so  great  that 
he  could  not  sleep.  He  would  rise  in  the 
night  to  pray  for  them,  with  strong  cryings 
and  tears.  Occasionally  he  awoke  his  wife 
and  asked  her  to  sing  him  some  pleasant  hymn 
to  soothe  him  to  rest.  In  one  of  his  anniver- 
sary sermons  he  referred  to  the  kindness  and 
sympathy  shown  him  by  his  people,  sending 
him,  when  prostrated  by  excessive  labors,  to  the 
sea-side,  supplying  the  church  during  his  ab- 
sence at  their  own  expense.  "Your  unnum- 
bered tokens  and  expressions  of  affection  are 
not  forgotten,  they  are  laid  up  in  my  heart  of 
hearts,  and  I  thank  God  always  for  you,  re- 
membering you  in  my  prayers.  But  all  this 
does  not  satisfy,  and  cannot  make  me  happy, 


REV.   JOHN   C.  TIIOM.  139 

while  the  cause  of  my  Redeemer  makes  no 
more  progress,  and  the  slain  of  my  people  arc 
so  many." 

In  the  same  sermon  he  made  a  solemn 
appeal  to  the  young,  and  alluded  to  the  deso- 
lations which  death  had  made  during  the  year 
that  was  gone.  "I  need  not  tell  you  of  him, 
whose  lifeless  body  I  helped,  with  my  own 
hacds,  to  raise  from  a  distant  grave,  and  bear 
to  the  home  which  he  had  left,  in  the  vigor  of 
his  youth,  but  a  little  while  before ;  nor  of  him 
who  now  sleeps  far  from  the  home  of  his  child- 
hood, where  the  magnolia  spreads  its  broad 
petals,  and  the  sounding  waves  of  a  southern 
sea  sing  his  eternal  dirge.  God  has  been  call- 
ing you  in  a  most  solemn  manner,  and  from 
those  new-made  graves  comes,  in  sad  and 
reproving  tones,  the  inquiry,  'Why  sit  ye 
here  all  the  day  idle?"' 

Thus  did  he  plead  with  sinners  in  the  great 
congregation.  On  the  way-side,  and  in  the 
home,  he  urged  them  to  be  reconciled  to  God, 
and  when  they  visited  him  in  the  Manse,  he 
would  seek  a  favorable  opportimity  of  con- 


140  ilEMOIK   OF   THE 

versing  and  praying  witli  them.  Meeting  a 
young  woman  in  the  church  aisle,  after  an 
earnest  sermon,  preached  by  Eev.  Alex.  Reed, 
on  the  words  of  Jesus,  "Seek  ye  first  the  king- 
dom of  God  and  his  righteousness,"  (Matt.  vi. 
33,)  he  addressed  her  in  his  usual  kind  way. 

"Well,  A ,  I  trust  you  are  seeking  that 

kingdom."  After  a  pastoral  visit  in  her  home, 
he  turned  to  her  and  said,   "And  you,  dear 

A ,  I  have  been  very  much  concerned  for 

you."  There  was  a  peculiar  solemnity  and 
earnestness  in  his  manner,  which  impressed  his 
unconverted  friend.  His  words  kept  sounding 
in  her  ears,  day  after  day.  She  could  not  for- 
get them.  At  length,  through  his  loving  faith- 
fulness, she  was  brought  to  Jesus,  and  after 
she  had  entered  the  kingdom,  his  judicious 
counsel  encouraged  her  fainting  heart,  and  his 
kind  admonitions  recalled  her  wandering  affec- 
tions. Instances  of  this  kind  might  be  almost 
indefinitely  multiplied.  His  labors  were  not 
in  vain  in  the  lord.  He  turned  many  to  right- 
eousness, and  now,  gone  to  the  other  world,  he 
shall  shine  as  a  star,  for  ever  and  ever. 


REV.   JOHN   C.   TIIOM.  '  1-il 


CHAPTEK    VIII. 

THE    PKEACIIER    AND    PASTOR. 

The  duty  of  entire  consecration  to  Christ  was 
often  urged  upon  his  people.  It  is  this  which 
gives  to  the  Christian  life  its  oneness.  It  con- 
centrates all  our  energies  on  the  great  end  of 
being;  converges  all  the  lines  of  thought  and 
action,  feeling  and  influence,  upon  the  glory 
of  God.  This  consecration  was  urged  by 
many  motives  drawn  from  this  life  and  the 
next. 

He  pressed  the  importance  of  systematic 
benevolence,  and  practised  it  himself.  Once 
he  remarked :  "  You  will  allow  me  to  say,  that 
I  act  upon  my  faith,  and  am  rewarded  accord- 
ing to  my  faith.  I  have  never  been  so  happy, 
and  never  felt  so  certain  of  my  daily  bread,  as 
since  I  commenced  giving  systematically  to 
the  Lord.  I  know  God  will  provide  for  me. 
I  have  sometimes  been  deceived  by  man,  but 


142  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

never  bj  God.  I  Lave  lost  some  money  out 
of  bank,  but  never  any  that  I  laid  up  in 
heaven.  I  have  notes,  and  bonds,  and  mort- 
gages, which  are  valueless.  But  here  is  God's 
■word,  signed,  sealed,  and  delivered,  upon 
which  I  am  ready  to  rest  my  temporal  com- 
fort, and  my  eternal  salvation."  Benevolence 
is  sure  to  be  rewarded  in  this  life.  But  the 
great  argument  was  drawn  from  the  cross  of 
Christ: — "Ye  are  not  your  own,  for  ye  are 
bought  with  a  price." 

It  was  gratifying  to  notice  the  growing 
liberality  of  the  people.  To  every  object  of 
Christian  benevolence  that  was  presented,  con- 
tributions were  made;  and  as  the  result  of  the 
faithful  instructions  of  the  pulpit,  attended 
with  the  Divine  blessing,  the  church  in 
Waynesburg  took  its  position  among  the 
largest  contributing  churches  in  the  Synod  of 
Philadelphia. 

Then,  too,  the  people  were  stirred  up  to 
direct  and  personal  efforts  for  the  salvation  of 
souls.  They  had  failed  to  do  their  duty  in 
this  respect.     "You  must  help  me,"  said  the 


TIEV.    JOHN   C.   THOM.  143 

pastor,  "and  help  me  more  earnestly  and 
effectually  than  you  have  done,  or  we  cannot 
expect  to  hear  the  Master  say,  'Well  done, 
good  and  faithful  servants.'  When  a  com- 
pany of  men  are  raising  a  building,  if  nearly 
all  cease  to  bear  their  part  of  the  burden,  it 
comes  with  a  crushing  weight  upon  a  few. 
My  dear  friends,  the  temple  of  the  Lord  must 
go  up.  There  is  much  work  to  be  done.  If 
you  fail  to  assist,  it  can  never  be  accom- 
plished. If  you  will  do  what  you  can,  we 
shall  in  due  time  bring  forth  the  headstone, 
with  shoutings  of  'grace,  grace  unto  it,'  "  The 
appeal  had  the  desired  effect.  Much  efficient 
aid  was  rendered  by  the  session  of  the  church. 
The  elders  were  noble  men ;  full  of  faith,  and 
devoted  to  the  interests  of  their  Master's  kinsr. 
dora.  Only  one  of  these  remain  until  the  pre- 
sent. May  the  blessing  of  Him  that  dwelleth 
in  the  bush,  be  upon  the  head  of  that  beloved 
man,  separated  for  a  season  from  his  brethren! 
One  evening  the  elders  were  called  together, 
and  asked  to  undertake  the  visitation  of  the 
congregation.     It  was  proposed  that  a  district 


144  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

should  be  assigned  to  eacL,  and  that  the  pastor 
should  follow.  They  acceded  to  the  proposi- 
tion without  objection  or  hesitation.  Soon 
after,  one  of  them  called  on  Mr.  Thom,  and 
invited  him  to  attend  a  meeting  they  had 
appointed  for  prayer,  that  God  would  prepare 
them  for  their  work,  and  aid  them  in  it.  He 
went  with  a  full  heart.  It  was  a  precious  and 
memorable  season.  Minister  and  elders  wept 
and  prayed  together.  They  prevailed  with 
God,  and  it  was  not  long  until  many  souls 
were  brought  to  Jesus.  The  pastor  was  par- 
ticularly struck  with  the  deep  seriousness 
which  he  found  in  one  of  the  districts,  through 
which  an  elder,  (E.  B.,)  had  gone  before  him. 
This  venerable  and  beloved  servant  of  God 
felt  that  this  was  the  last  public  work  in 
which  he  would  ensrao-e.  The  shadow  of 
death  resting  upon  him,  he  spoke  with  much 
solemnity  and  melting  tenderness  to  all  whom 
he  met.  Some  whom  he  addressed,  shortly 
after  found  peace  in  believing.  In  a  few 
months  the  godly  man  laid  his  armor  off,  and, 
with   the  name  of  Jesus  on  his  lips,  sweetly 


UKV.  J  OlllSr   C.   THOM.  145 

went  to   bis   eternal    rest.     "Blessed   are  the 
dead  which  die  in  the  Lord!" 

Mr.  Thorn  was  a  laborious  pastor.  His  field 
was  large,  and  it  required  much  time  to  make 
the  circuit.  Be  found  it  impracticable  to 
make  many  merely  social  visits.  His  atten- 
tions to  the  sick  were  prompt  and  unremit- 
ting, whilst  the  necessity  for  them  continued. 
As  has  already  been  intimated,  the  home  of 
affliction  never  waited  lonsr  for  his  cominsf. 
He  preached  the  gospel  from  house  to  house, 
and  under  every  roof  he  offered  many  and 
earnest  prayers.  His  forenoons  were  devoted 
to  study,  and  the  remainder  of  the  day  to  pas- 
toral visitation.  During  the  six  and  a  half 
years  he  spent  in  Waynesburg,  there  was  but 
one  Sabbath  on  which,  Avhen  at  home,  he 
failed  to  preach.  That  was  a  day  of  much 
suffering  and  anxiety.  He  frequently  preach- 
ed when  he  was  very  unwell,  and  many  felt 
like  a  good  mother  in  Israel,  who  said,  "I 
could  not  keep  back  the  tears  when  I  saw 
him  entering  the  pulpit,  knowing  that  he  had 
come  to  it  from  a  sick  bed."     His  physician 


146  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

often  advised  him  not  to  attend  night  meet- 
ings in  bad  weather,  assuring  him  tliat  he 
could  not  do  it  without  positive  and  imme- 
diate injury  to  his  health.  He  would  reply, 
"I  must  work  while  the  day  lasts."  This  is 
not  referred  to  in  the  way  of  unqualified  com- 
mendation. In  the  judgment  of  his  friends 
he  often  acted  unwisely,  and  shortened  his 
days.  But  it  reveals  the  earnestness  of  the 
man,  and  his  readiness  to  endure  suffering 
for  the  church's  sake. 

A  distinguished  friend,  who  spent  a  season 
in  Waynesburg,  says:  "More  than  a  score  of 
times  I  told  him  he  was  injuring  himself; 
that  no  human  being  could  possibly  carry 
such  a  burden  of  labor  long,  and  adjured  him 
to  rest.  Ilis  reply,  in  substance,  was:  'I 
cannot  stop.  The  work  must  be  done  at  any 
and  all  cost.'  His  attitude  in  this  regard  was 
really  sublime.  And  yet  I  could  wish  his 
views  of  duty  in  the  case  had  been  different." 

He  was  a  diligent  student.  He  was  not 
willing  to  serve  God  with  that  which  cost  him 
nothino:.     His  morning  sermons  were  usually 


REV.   JOHN   C.    THOM.  147 

written,  and  always  prepared  with  all  the  care 
he  could  bestow  upon  tbcm.  His  afternoon 
sermons  were  unwritten.  He  had  a  decidedly 
metaphysical  turn  of  mind,  and  was  familiar 
with  natural  science.  But,  as  a  rule,  his  ser- 
mons were  simple,  and  his  illustrations  were 
drawn  from  familiar  objects  in  nature,  and  the 
common  occurrences  of  life.  Plain  and  un- 
lettered people  heard  him  gladly.  The  chil- 
dren could  understand  the  most  that  he  said, 
and  some  of  them  received  the  word  with  joy. 
He  seldom  took  his  manuscript  into  the  pulpit, 
but  made  himself  familiar  with  the  train  of 
thought,  and  for  language  depended,  to  a  con- 
siderable extent,  on  the  inspiration  of  the 
moment.  His  style  was  vigorous.  He  aimed 
at  directness,  rather  than  elegance,  and  yet  his 
sermons  contained  many  passages  that  could 
not  fail  to  gratify  the  most  fastidious  taste. 

He  made  a  habit  of  reading  the  Scriptures 
in  the  original  languages,  and  his  Latin  com- 
mentaries, with  Turrettini  Opera,  were  highly 
prized,  and  frequently  consulted.  The  Bible 
and  prayer  were  to  him  like  the  electrodes  of  a 


148  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

voltaic  pile.  They  kept  the  currents  of  his 
spiritual  life  in  motion,  and  prepared  him  to 
enter  upon  his  public  work  with  a  warm  heart 
and  burning  zeal.  He  was  also  fond  of 
poetry ;  and  astronomy,  cliemistry,  and  geo- 
logy were  favorite  studies:  but  the  word  of 
God  was  always  placed  in  the  foreground,  and 
through  the  lields  of  revelation  he  loved  to 
range  during  the  week,  returning  to  his  people 
on  the  Sabbath,  bending  under  the  precious 
fruits  gathered  in  the  spiritual  vineyards  of 
the  Lord.  "The  Song  of  Songs,  which  is  Solo- 
mon's," was  to  him  a  delightful  study.  Some 
of  his  sweetest  and  most  precious  sermons 
were  suggested  by  the  Eoyal  Preacher,  and  a 
favorite  commentary  on  the  Song  was  read 
with  a  delight  which  continually  increased. 

The  statement  has  already  been  made,  that 
his  preaching  was  often  close  and  pungent. 
He  believed  in  conviction  of  sin;  and  such 
doctrines  as  human  depravity,  the  awful  holi- 
ness of  God,  and  the  eternal  punishment  of 
the  wicked,  were  not  withheld,  because  dis- 
tasteful to  the   carnal   mind.     Sometimes   he 


KEV.   JOHN   C,  TUOM.  14:9 

gave  such  prominence  to  the  terrors  of  the 
Lord,  that  many  persons  were  thrown  into 
great  distress,  and  yet  the  outstanding  charac- 
teristic of  his  preaching  was  tenderness.  Es- 
pecially was  this  the  case  during  the  last  years 
of  his  ministry.  Dr.  M says:  "Ilis  con- 
stant theme  was  Jesus;  his  habitual  desire,  the 
salvation  of  souls.  In  addressing  his  hearers, 
his  sympathies  would  become  so  much  enlisted, 
that  it  seemed  he  would  be  willing  to  sacrifice 
his  own  dear  life,  if  by  so  doing  he  could 
bring  souls  to  Christ.  And  he  did.  He  died 
with  his  armor  on,  but  being  dead,  he  yet 
speaks,  0,  how  eloquently!" 

Many  remember  his  sermon  on  Hebrews 
xii.  25,  "See  that  ye  refuse  not  Him  that 
speaketh."  He  portrayed  the  sufferings  of 
Jesus  so  graphically,  that  the  cross  seemed  to 
rise  to  the  view  of  the  congregation,  and  on  it 
hung  the  wounded,  dying  Son  of  God.  Then 
he  added,  "O,  see  that  ye  refuse  not  Him  that 
speaketh."  This  was  repeated  in  a  tone  which 
thrilled  his  hearers.  After  a  short  pause,  he 
continued:  "Look  again  at  that  victim  on  the 
13- 


150  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

cross!  Is  there  not  a  tongue  in  every  wound, 
pleading  with  a  melting  tenderness  which 
should  move  a  heart  of  stone?"  Then  fol- 
lowed a  beautiful  portrayal  of  the  Saviour's 
love  to  ruined  men,  and  an  appeal  to  hear 
God's  own  and  only  Son,  so  affectionate,  that, 
for  a  moment,  it  seemed  that  no  soul  could 
leave  the  house  of  God  without  an  entire  sur- 
render to  Jesus.  The  love,  sympathy,  faith- 
fulness, and  all-sufficient  grace  of  Christ  were 
favorite  themes.  He  delighted  to  lead  his 
people  to  Calvary,  sit  in  the  shadow  of  the 
cross,  contemplate  the  Lamb  slain  from  the 
foundation  of  the  world,  and  then  look  far 
above  to  the  throne  of  the  Lamb  reigning  and 
triumphant  in  heaven. 

His  sermons  abounded  in  illustrations. 
Such  is  our  mental  and  moral  constitution, 
that  deeper  and  more  abiding  impressions  are 
made  by  concrete  truths  than  by  abstract 
statements.  Hence  the  power  of  Christ's  incar- 
nation, His  lowly  life,  and  sorrowful  death. 
We  should  never  have  known  that  God  is  love, 
had  not  that  precious  truth  been  revealed  by 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  151 

God  manifested  in  the  flesh.  Our  Saviour  in 
His  preaching  adapted  His  style  of  address  to 
the  minds  and  hearts  of  men,  and  spake  to  the 
people  in  parables.  Beautiful  and  impressive 
are  the  pictures  which  the  Evangelists  have 
preserved  for  us  in  the  galleries  of  the  imper- 
ishable word. 

Imitating  the  great  Teacher,  Mr,  Thorn 
employed  illustrations;  thus  conveying  truth 
to  the  humblest  mind,  and  fixing  it  there,  as  a 
nail  in  a  sure  place.  In  the  sermon  on  the 
text  already  referred  to,  "see  that  ye  refuse  not 
Him  that  speaketh,"  the  following  illustrations 
occur.  "How  earnestly  God  calls!  There  is  no 
time  for  delay.  A  party  of  men  were  raising 
a  heavy  building  iu  the  west.  When  almost 
up,  a  huge  beam  slipped  from  their  pikes.  It 
poised  for  a  moment  on  the  timbers.  All  saw 
it  must  fall,  and  there  was  a  rush  for  life.  But 
one  failed  to  move.  'See!  See!'  cried  his 
companions,  as  with  white  faces  they  pointed 
to  the  danger.  But  in  vain  they  shouted,  and 
shrieked  the  alarm.  He  seemed  bewildered. 
He  hesitated.     'Fly!  fly!  fly!'  they  screamed. 


152  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

But  still  he  tarried.  The  beam  crashed  down 
upon  him,  and  he  was  dead  in  a  moment.  So 
hang  suspended  the  thunderbolts  of  Divine 
vengeance.  Not  long  will  judgment  linger. 
Not  long  will  damnation  slumber.  God  calls, 
'See  that  ye  refuse  not  Him  that  speaketh.' " 

"God  is  always  kind  and  good,  but  He 

has  addressed  mankind  in  very  different  ways. 
Once  he  came  down  on  Mount  Sinai.  The 
mount  shook;  the  earth  trembled.  In  the 
midst  of  fire,  and  smoke,  and  tempest,  and 
thunder.  He  uttered  His  voice.  The  man  of 
God  did  exceedingly  fear  and  quake,  and  the 
people,  terror-stricken,  fell  to  the  ground. 
But  amid  all  this  there  was  no  word  of  love. 

Now   look  to  the  wilderness  of  Judea, 

and  see  a  Man  of  Sorrows,  taking  upon  him,  at 
baptism,  the  burden  of  a  broken  law.  See  Him 
in  the  desert,  baring  His  bosom  to  the  fiery 
darts  of  Satan.  Follow  Him  through  years  of 
toil  and  pain,  Himself  bearing  our  sorrows  and 
receiving  our  stripes.  Behold  Him  looking 
down  on  the  devoted  city,  weeping  as  He 
looks.      Turn   your   eyes   to   Mount   Moriah. 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  153 

Who  is  that,  red  from  the  scourging,  with 
shame  and  spitting  on  Ilis  brow,  staggering 
under  tlie  cross,  meekly  wending  His  way 
among  thieves  to  the  place  of  a  skull,  while 
the  multitude  hoot,  and  jeer,  and  scoft:  Him  out 
of  the  world?  Look  again.  They  have 
pierced  His  hands  and  His  feet,  and  hung  Him 
on  the  accursed  tree.  His  face  is  furrowed  by 
the  writhings  of  mortal  agony.  The  powers 
of  darkness  are  crowding  upon  Him.  His 
father's  face  is  turned  away.  He  utters  no 
word.  But,  look  at  Him!  Was '?uch  pleading 
with  sinners  ever  heard,  as  the  silent  pleading 
of  that  pale  face  and  mangled  form?  Sit  down 
at  the  foot  of  the.  cross,  and  look  at  Jesus. 
He  is  God's  messenger  to  you.  Will  you  now 
believe?" 

When  urging  immediate  flight  to  the  cross, 
the  only  place  of  security  for  the  guilty 
and  condemned,  he  spake  as  follows:  "When 
ascending  the  Alps,  a  traveler  was  thrown 
from  his  horse.  He  toppled  over  the  precipice, 
and  was  dashed,  a  mangled  corpse,  upon  the 
rocks  beneath.     We,  too,  are  toiling  up  the 


154  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

Alps.  Wo  meet  with  difficulties,  and  are 
obliged  to  labor  at  all  times.  But  often  we 
creep  along  the  slippery  verge  of  precipices  of 
ruin ;  we  cross  the  scarred  and  desolated  track 
of  the  awful  avalanche  of  passion;  our  feet 
slide  on  the  glassy  slope  of  glaciers  of  plea- 
sure, and  we  tread  almost  unconsciously  over 
the  thin,  loose  covering,  which  conceals  the 
pits  and  forges  of  temptation.  It  will  not  do 
to  close  our  eyes.  It  is  madness  to  relax  our 
muscles.  It  is  death  to  walk  carelessly.  Hold, 
then!  Your  feet  are  slipping.  Drive  down 
your  steel-shod  staff!  Seize  the  hand  of  your 
Guide!  Look  up,  lest  your  head  grow  dizzy, 
and  you  reel  into  the  abyss!  Eedeem  the 
time!     Now!    Now!" 

Urging  efforts  for  the  salvation  of  others,  he 
said:  "You  spring  from  your  bed  at  midnight, 
and  fly  for  your  physician  when  you  are 
wakened  by  symptoms  of  deadly  disease  in  one 
of  your  children.  The  time  required  to  bring 
him  to  the  side  of  the  little  sufferer  seems 
almost  an  age.  Now,  what  would  you  think  if 
he   would  sit   coolly  down  and    talk   of  the 


REV.   JOHN   C.   TnOM.  155 

weather,  and  crops,  and  stocks,  and  trade,  till 
the  crisis  was  past,  and  fatal  coma  ensued, 
when  all  the  time  you  knew  that  prompt  and 
energetic  action  would  save  your  child?  You 
would  stop  him  with  almost  savage  earnest- 
ness. Bring  out  your  hot  bath  !  Lay  on  your 
sinapism!  Force  open  the  clenched  teeth,  and 
pour  down  the  healing  draught!  Away  with 
your  business  and  pleasure  when  life — LIFE  is 
trembling  in  the  balance.  '  Ecdeem  the  time.' 
But,  my  dear  friends,  there  are  deadly  symp- 
toms in  the  dearest  child  of  your  bosom.  Sin 
is  there,  and  shows  itself  in  a  thousand  words, 
and  feelings,  and  acts,  and  it  needs  only  time 
to  end  in  death.  Soon  the  fatal  stupidity  will 
come,  and  all  your  cries  will  fall  upon  their 
ears  unheard.  Wake  them  from  their  slumber; 
fly  to  the  Great  Physician,  and  give  Him  no 
rest  till  He  has  applied  the  healing  balm  of 
His  own  blood  to  that  precious  soul  1" 

The  following  touching  incident  was  used  to 
illustrate  the  love  of  Christ.  "In  one  of  those 
sudden  and  terrible  storms,  which  in  the  long 
winter  sometimes  burst  on  northern  prairies,  a 


156  MEMOIR  OF   THE 

mother  was  overtaken,  with  her  little  boy, 
miles  away  from  home.  They  struggled  on, 
but  the  snow  was  blinding,  and  they  were 
pierced  through  with  the  pitiless  cold.  At 
length  the  stupor  of  approaching  death  began 
to  steal  upon  them,  but  the  mother's  heart 
could  not  be  chilled.  She  took  the  covering 
from  her  own  bent  shoulders,  and  wrapped  it 
about  the  child.  Then  taking  him  in  her  arms 
she  turned  her  back  to  the  deadly  blast,  and 
laid  herself  down  to  die.  Hours  after,  she  was 
found  by  searching  friends.  She  was  dead! 
But  the  child,  folded  in  her  embrace,  though 
unconscious,  was  yet  alive.  The  last  rays  of 
warmth  from  that  loving  heart  had  been 
enough  to  save  the  boy.  Was  not  that  love 
strong  as  death?  But  what  was  it  to  the  love 
of  our  Saviour,  when  in  the  storm  of  God's 
wrath,  and  there  was  no  room  for  pity,  he 
covered  us  with  the  robe  of  His  righteousness, 
and  Himself  stood  exposed  to  the  vengeance 
which  pursued  Him  even  to  death.  The 
God-man  saved  us  at  the  sacrifice  of  his  own 
life! 


REV.   JOHN   C.  THOM.  157 

'  0,  for  tliia  lovo  let  rocks  and  hills 
Thoir  lasting  silence  break  !'  " 

In  another  sermon  he  thus  discoursed  on  the 
same  theme.  "  The  love  of  Jesus  is  great.  He 
says.  '  As  the  Father  hath  loved  me,  so  have  I 
loved  you.'  How  much  do  you  love  the  child 
at  your  knee?  Let  your  love  be  put  to  the 
test,  when  you  are  drawing  him  to  your  side, 
putting  back  the  curls  from  his  white  brow, 
and  looking  down  into  the  depths  of  those 
great  eyes  which  are  raised  so  wonderingly  to 
to  yours.  Would  you  not  give  your  life  for 
his?  .  .  .  One  of  the  most  fearful  conceptions 
ever  cast  upon  the  canvas  is  the  picture  of 
Death  upon  the  Pale  Horse,  by  Benjamin 
West.  The  skeleton  King,  bestriding  a  fire- 
breathing  steed,  is  charging  furiously  over  the 
dying  and  the  dead.  With  glaring  eyes,  and 
grinding  teeth,  he  scatters  his  darts  on  every 
hand.  Around  him,  war  and  pestilence,  wild 
beasts  of  the  field  and  forest,  fire,  and  light- 
ning, and  violence  of  every  kind,  are  hasten- 
ing on  their  work  of  destruction,  and  behind 
him  come  his  trooping  legions,  and  with 
14 


158  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

demon  claw  and  snaky  coil  they  throttle  the 
half-dead  victims,  and  hurry  them  away  to 
their  torments.  But  just  before  the  monster's 
charger  sits  a  pale  mother  with  her  little  babe, 
in  strong  convulsions,  upon  her  bosom.  While 
the  father,  forgetful  of  life,  forgetful  of  pesti- 
lence, forgetful  of  death,  forgetful  of  hell  itself, 
thinking  only  of  his  first-born,  writhing  in  his 
agony,  casts  himself  before  the  monster  and 
presents  his  own  bosom  to  the  fiery  dart,  or  to 
the  iron  heel  of  the  pale  horse,  if  haply  he  may 
shield  his  child.  The  picture  is  true  to  life. 
It  is  not  overdrawn.  My  dear  friends,  this  is 
but  the  expression  of  the  love  of  poor,  imper- 
fect, earthly  beings,  whose  affections,  as  well 
as  their  other  faculties,  have  been  sadly  blunted 
and  degraded  by  the  fall.  It  can  but  faintly 
shadow  forth  the  infinite  love  of  the  Heavenly 
Father  for  his  only  begotten  and  well-beloved 
Son.  And  yet  that  Son,  aware  of  all  liis 
Father's  affection,  says,  'As  my  Father  hath 
loved  me,  so  have  I  loved  you.'" 

As  a  declaimer,  Mr.  Thom  had  considerable 
power.     He  was  passionately  fond  of  listening 


KEV.   JOHN   C.  THOM.  159 

to  public  speakers  who  excelled  in  oratory. 
He  would  put  himself  to  much  inconvenience, 
and  by  prodigious  efforts  anticipate  his  work, 
that  he  might  hear  some  distinguished  lecturer 
or  elocutionist.  Occasionally,  as  a  pleasant 
recreation,  he  would  entertain  students,  or 
young  men  of  his  congregation,  by  readings 
from  the  poets ;  and  his  rendering  of  stirring, 
pathetic,  and  descriptive  passages  from  Shak- 
speare,  Tennyson,  Longfellow,  and  others,  ex- 
hibited an  unusual  cultivation  of  voice,  and 
command  of  the  emotions. 

Sometimes  the  orator  was  too  prominent  in 
the  delivery  of  the  sermon.  Some  thought 
him  theatrical,  particularly  in  the  early  part 
of  his  ministry.  He  rarely  preached  with 
much  effect  on  his  first  appearance  among 
strangers.  The  heavenly  unction  was  want- 
ing, to  modify  and  soften  his  manner.  He 
craved  sympathy,  and  felt  powerless  without 
the  prayers  of  the  church.  He  expressed  this 
in  a  letter  addressed  to  one  of  his  people  from 
Bedford:  "It  is  not  so  pleasant  to  preach  away 
from   home.      Sympathy  and   coufidence   are 


160  MEMOIK  OF  THE 

wonderful  helps  to  religious  enjoyment.  "We 
need  communion  with  one  another,  as  well  as 
with  our  Saviour.  So,  when  we  are  away 
among  comparative  strangers,  and  cannot  tell 
how  far  they  sympathize  with  us,  it  is  difficult 
to  feel  the  same  glow  that  we  do  when  at  our 
own  altar,  and  among  our  own  brethren." 

At  times  he  was  truly  eloquent.     Professor 

W ,  a  man  of  much  culture  and  superior 

literary  attainments,  writes:  "The  first  sermon 
I  ever  heard  him  preach,  contained  several 
passages  of  great  power,  and  one  in  particular, 
which  first  excited  my  special  interest  in  him, 
and  attracted  my  attention  to  him  as  a  marked 
man,  involving  a  very  fine,  apposite,  and  strik- 
ing image,  was  as  bold  and  happy  a  piece  of 
rhetorical  illustration  as  I  ever  heard  or  read." 
Similar  testimony  is  borne  in  the  Presbyterial 
Obituary:  "Eloquent,  simple,  earnest,  and 
abundant  in  illustrations,  he  gained  the  atten- 
tion  of  the  hearer,  and  impressed  truth  and 
duty  on  his  heart." 

He  preached  Christ.  No  matter  what  the 
subject   of    his  sermon,    he   always   found   a 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  161 

natural,  easy,  and  pleasant  path  to  the  cross. 
All  sin  was  viewed  in  the  light  of  Calvary. 
All  duty  was  urged  by  motives  drawn  from 
the  death  of  Jesus.  The  weak,  tempted, 
afflicted,  weary,  and  despondent,  were  directed 
to  Him  whose  heart  is  made  of  tenderness; 
whose  fulness  can  never  be  exhausted.  So 
closely  and  persistently  did  he  adhere  to  the 
precious  gospel,  even  during  those  dark  and 
memorable  daj'^s  of  our  country's  trial,  when 
our  national  life  was  imperilled,  that  some 
questioned  his  loyalty  to  the  government. 
But  on  thanksgiving  and  fast-days,  he  ex- 
pressed his  views  on  the  great  questions  of  the 
day  with  so  much  candor  and  distinctness, 
that  his  patriotism  could  not  be  doubted. 
Even  then  he  preached  Christ  the  Lord.  He 
drew  an  argument  for  devotion  to  the  country 
from  the  life  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  who  loved 
His  own,  selected  His  Apostles  from  among 
His  own  countrymen,  and  commanded  that 
the  gospel  should  be  preached  in  all  the 
world,  heginning  at  Jerusalem.  Then  he 
urged  submission  to  the  Lord,  who  ordaina 
14* 


162  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

the  powers  that  preside  over  the  nation.  Con- 
tent with  such  expressions  of  sentiment  on 
these  set  occasions,  he  devoted  the  rest  of  his  . 
time  to  preaching  the  simple,  essential  truths 
of  religion.  The  sanctuary  was  a  quiet  retreat 
from  the  noise  and  turmoil  which  continued 
through  the  week,  and  on  the  Sabbath  the 
attention  of  dying  men  and  women  was  di- 
rected to  the  unseen  world,  and  the  kingdom 
which  endureth  for  ever.  By  this  course, 
quiet  and  harmony  were  continued  in  the 
church.  Whilst  many  other  congregations 
were  distracted  and  rent,  not  a  single  family 
or  individual  withdrew  from  his,  and  out  of 
the  fiery  trial  the  church  came  forth  at  last, 
strong,  and  as  united,  as  before  the  war. 

In  all  his  labors,  he  endeavored  to  keep  the 
glory  of  God  continually  in  view.  He  had 
conflicts,  such  as  are  common  to  men.  Love 
of  applause,  natural  ambition,  and  self-love, 
often  troubled  him.  He  needed  to  watch  and 
pray.  But  nothing  could  have  induced  him 
to  turn  aside  from  the  ministry,  and  that 
Christ  might  be  glorified  in  him  and  by  him, 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  163 

was  the  habitual  and  controling  desire  of  his 
life.  To  a  mercenary  minister,  who  once 
made  an  ojEiensive  proposition,  he  said,  with 
much  feeling,  and  some  indignation :  "  If  this 
day  I  should  be  offered  the  income  I  once 
had,  (as  a  teacher  at  Natchez,  which  was  at 
least  three  times  greater  than  his  salary  as 
pastor,)  and  all  the  ease  it  is  possible  to  enjoy, 
on  condition  that  I  turn  aside  from  the  service 
of  God  in  the  ministry,  I  would  not  look  at  it 
for  a  moment."  At  another  time,  a  warm 
personal  friend,  who  was  wealthy  and  ad- 
vanced in  life,  wished  him  to  take  ten  thou- 
sand dollars,  asking  only  the  legal  interest  for 
the  same  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Some  of  his  friends  advised  him  to  accept  the 
offer,  but  after  a  little  consideration  he  de- 
clined it:  "I  was  afraid  it  was  a  temptation  of 
the  devil." 

Whilst  teaching  at  Natchez,  he  accumulated 
a  considerable  sum  of  money.  The  first 
thing  he  did,  was  to  return  four-fold  to  a  sister, 
who  had  assisted  him  to  secure  his  collegiate 
education.     He   also  gave  to  the  support  of 


164  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

his  father,  and  the  education  of  his  younger 
sisters.  What  remained,  after  meeting  per- 
sonal expenses,  was  invested  in  the  South. 
This  was  all  lost  during  the  war.  Yet  he 
never  murmured,  and  the  shadow  of  distrust 
in  God  never  crossed  his  mind.  But  few 
knew  of  the  loss  he  had  sustained.  To  an 
intimate  friend  he  remarked:  "If  our  country 
is  saved,  my  property  shall  be  a  most  cheerful 
offering:  if  the  government  is  overthrown,  it 
would  have  been  of  no  use  to  me,"  To  his  wife 
he  said:  ''I  have  not  a  doubt  but  that  we  will 
be  provided  for.  I  have  laid  all  on  God's 
altar,  and  His  promise  is  sure." 

"Writing  from  Atlantic  City,  whither  he  had 
gone  to  recruit  his  health,  he  says:  "I  am  now 
much  improved,  and  I  hope  I  shal]  get  en- 
tirely well.  O,  if  God  would  be  pleased  to 
make  me  strong  again,  I  would  be  thankful. 
There  is  so  much  I  want  to  do  for  Him.  I  do 
think  my  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  God  is, 
that  His  name  may  be  glorified,  and  souls 
saved  through  me." 


[liEV.   JOHN   C.    THOM.  165 

And  thus,  seeking  submission  to  God's  will 
in  all  things,  glorying  only  in  the  cross  of 
Christ,  through  disappointment,  affliction,  and 
weariness,  he  held  on  his  way,  and  many 
believed  on  Jesus  throuG;h  his  word. 


166  MEMOIR   OF   THE 


CHAPTEE  IX. 

ADDITIONAL       CnARACTERlSTICS. 

He  was  a  man  of  remarkable  charity.  Going 
back  to  his  early  youth  we  find  the  following 
in  his  diary.  "I  have  been  schooling  myself 
to  think  well  of  men,  when  it  is  possible,  and 
not  to  speak  ill  of  any  one.  To  a  degree  I 
have  succeeded:  but  my  heart  is  often  full  of 
bitterness.  0!  meek  and  lowly  Jesus,  give 
me  of  Thy  Spirit!"  An  intimate  friend  in 
later  years,  says,  "I  never  heard  him  utter  an 
uncharitable  remark."  Another,  who  knew 
him  well,  says;  ''He  was  a  man  of  the  largest 
charity.  I  never  heard  him  express  an  ill  feel- 
ing or  an  unfriendly  sentiment  with  reference 
to  any  human  being,  and  that  although  our 
conversation  often  fell  upon  men  whose  views 
and  practices  were  diametrically  opposite  to 
his  own.  He  had  no  jealousies.  He  used  to 
recount   the   merits   and   excellencies    of    his 


REV.    JOHN   C.   THOM.  167 

brethren  in  the  ministry,  with  whom  he  would 
naturally  be  compared,  with  the  most  evident 
pleasure,  deeming  their  successes  his  own." 

His  self-forgetfulness  was  great.  Where 
duty  pointed,  he  went,  no  matter  what  toil  or 
suffering  lay  in  the  way.  He  bore  other  men's 
burdens,  he  forgot  his  need  of  rest,  and  night 
vigils  with  the  sick  and  dying  were  continued 
beyond  the  ordinary  limits  of  human  endu- 
rance. To  reward  merit,  he  would  put  him- 
self on  the  background.  To  promote  a  friend, 
he  would  humble  himself.  To  relieve  suffer- 
ing, he  would  sacrifice  personal  comfort. 
These  are  statements  confirmed  by  the  obser- 
vation of  all,  and  by  the  experience  of  many, 
who  knew  him. 

He  was  a  patient  suiferer.  Afflicted  much 
of  his  life,  he  seldom  spoke  of  his  bodily  ail- 
ments. Often  when  racked  with  severe  pain, 
he  went  through  all  his  usual  Sabbath  services, 
or  visited  his  people,  and  his  calm,  cheerful 
manner,  suggested  no  inquiries  concerning 
his  health.     He  would  refer  with  much  feelino^ 


168  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

to  the  afflictione  of  friends,  and  bear  his  own 
in  patient  silence. 

nis  genial  hospitality  will  be  gratefully 
remembered  by  many.  His  ministerial  friends 
always  received  a  most  cordial  welcome.  The 
invalid  stranger,  lacking  needed  comforts  at 
the  village  hotel,  has  found  a  home  in  the  min- 
ister's family,  kindly  watched  and  cared  for, 
and  sent  on  his  way  with  pleasant  memories 
that  shall  never  die.  "I  was  a  stranger,"  says 
one,  who  soon  learned  to  love  him,  "and  he 
took  me  in.  I  came  from  a  distant  part  of  the 
country;  he  never  seemed  for  a  moment  to 
feel  the  slightest  local  prejudice,  but  hailed 
and  welcomed  me  among  his  people  and  to 
his  own  fire-side,  with  protracted  and  free 
hospitality,  and  most  generous  attentions, 
so  long  as  my  continuance  required  or 
admitted." 

He  was  wont  to  enter  readily  and  heartily, 
and  with  great  self-forgetfulness,  into  all  the 
hopes,  wishes  and  anxieties  of  all  who  appealed 
to  him,  or  whom  he  saw  in  need  of  sympathy 
or  aid. 


REV.   JOHN    C.  THOM.  169 

He  was  delicate  in  giving  counsel.  His 
sensibilities  were  acute ;  his  tact  ready,  and  his 
appreciation  of  the  whole  case  presented,  was 
wonderfully  complete.  His  advice  to  the  soul, 
burdened  witli  sin,  was  judicious.  He  rarely 
bewildered  with  much  talking,  but  by  a  few 
appropriate  words,  met  the  case,  and  relieved 
the  anxiety. 

He  was  peculiarly  happy  in  addressing  the 
afflicted  and  bereaved.  He  urged  them  with  a 
sweet  persuasiveness  to  carry  their  burdens  to 
Jesus;  contrasted  the  light  afflictions  with  the 
glory  to  be  revealed;  turned  their  thoughts  to 
the  rest  of  that  world  where  clouds  shall  never 
gather,  and  sorrow  shall  never  come.  There 
are  bereaved  ones  on  their  way  home  to-day, 
whose  pathway  will  be  brightened  to  its  close 
by  the  remembrance  of  his  sympathy,  and  the 
comforting  words  he  spake. 

He  had  a  rare  capacity  for  joy  and  suffering. 
This  being  the  case,  he  was  peculiarly  careful 
of  others,  placing  himself  between  them  and 
suffering,  physical  or  mental,  whenever  it  was 
possible.  He  was  mindful  of  the  Divine  direc- 
15 


170  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

tion:  "Bear  ye  one  another's  burdens,  and  so 
fulfil  the  law  of  Christ."     Gal.  vi.  2. 

His  social  qualities  were  of  a  high  order. 
He  eschewed  the  cold  formality  of  fashionable 
life.  He  was  natural,  warm,  and  free  in  inter- 
course with  his  friends,  and  won  the  churlish 
by  his  courteous  and  kind  attentions. 

He  was  preeminently  a  man  of  prayer. 
When  oppressed,  wounded,  fearful,  discour- 
aged, happy,  he  went  to  the  "secret  place  of 
the  stairs."  He  had  stated  times  for  private 
devotions,  and  studiously  guarded  against  any 
interruption  or  diversion  from  them.  He 
always  rose  early,  in  order  that  he  might  secure 
time  for  devotional  reading,  meditation,  and 
prayer.  He  carried  every  want  to  Jesus.  The 
daily  cares  of  the  family  were  laid  before  the 
Heavenly  Friend,  and  direction  sought  in  all 
the  plans  which  had  reference  to  his  domestic 
duties  and  enjoyments.  One  day,  when  his 
wife  was  perplexed  about  certain  provisions 
for  the  househeld,  he  said,  "  Did  you  ask  God 
for  it?"  "Do  you  ask  for  such  things?"  "Yes, 
always.     Everything  I  think  it  right  to  desire 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  171 

I  ask  for,  believing  that  if  it  is  best  I  should 
have  it,  God  would  give  it." 

He  disliked  late  hours.  Saturday  evening 
he  wanted  to  himself.  Often  he  failed  to  secure 
time  for  meditation  and  prayer  on  that  even- 
ing, by  reason  of  the  interruption  of  visitors. 
Then  the  night  was  apt  to  be  one  of  restless- 
ness, and  often,  on  his  bed,  he  was  overheard 
pleading  for  a  blessing  upon  his  people  and 
himself. 

His  love  to  Christians  was  strong.  He  often 
spoke  with  great  affection  of  some  of  his 
friends  who  were  eminent  for  piety.  His 
heart  warmed  toward  the  humblest  who  bore 
the  image  of  the  Saviour.  As  he  grew  more 
like  Jesus,  his  love  toward  the  weakest  disciple 

increased.    Of  one  he  writes :  "  C is  a  good 

man,  a  noble  man,  a  thinking  man,  and,  better 
than  all,  a  praying  man.  I  derive  much  ad- 
vantage from  his  society."  Of  another,  to 
whom  his  soul  was  knit,  as  David's  to  Jona- 
than: "There  is  no  man  I  ever  saw  that 
comes  nearer  to  my  idea  of  a  good  man  than 


172  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

E ,"  and  he  loved  him  because  he  walked 

with  God. 

lie  loved  to  converse  on  subjects  pertaining 
to  Christ  and  his  kingdom.  The  writer  re- 
members talks  about  Jesus,  when  walking  with 
him  through  the  fields,  or  sitting  together  in 
the  quiet  study.  His  face  would  brighten  as 
he  dwelt  on  the  beauties  of  the  Beloved,  the 
One  altogether  lovely,  and  his  eyes  would  fill 
with  tears  as  he  spoke  of  the  way  by  which  the 
kind  Shepherd  had  led  him.  There  was  a  sick 
minister  who  spent  several  days  in  his  family. 
He  was  one  who  had  lived  near  the  cross,  and 
breathed  the  atmosphere  of  heaven  on  earth. 
"I  love  Jesus,  and  I  like  to  tell  him  so," 
the  minister  was  wont  to  say.  Very  pleasant 
were  the  conversations  between  the  sufferer 
and  his  tender  nurse,  and  during  those  few  days 
they  were  bound  together  by  bonds  of  Chris- 
tian affection,  which  even  death  has  not  sun- 
dered. There  was  no  spiritual  parade  mani- 
fested in  his  conversation.  He  avoided  the 
appearance  of  religious  cant.  He  was  never 
attracted  to  persons  who  talked  religion  on  all 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  173 

occasions,  and  honored  Christ  but  little,  if  at 
all,  by  Christian  labors.  "Some  people's 
tongues  are  larger  than  both  their  hands." 
But  with  simple-minded  and  sincere  Christians 
he  held  sweet  counsel,  and  was  greatly  re- 
freshed by  it.  His  views  on  "Keligious  Con- 
versation" were  fully  presented  in  an  elaborate 
and  eminently  practical  article,  written  several 
years  ago,  and  published  in  a  monthly  maga- 
zine. It  was  based  on  the  words  of  the  pro- 
phecy, Malachi  iii.  16.  He  insisted  that  if 
Jesus  was  oftener  the  subject  of  devout  and 
loving  contemplation  we  would  oftener  talk 
about  Him.  "While  I  was  musing,  the  fire 
burned:  then  spake  I  with  my  tongue."  Psalm 
xxxix.  3. 

He  was  a  cheerful  Christian,  equally  re- 
moved from  levity  and  moroseness.  At  times 
he  was  very  sad.  His  tender  sympathies  and 
warm  affections  made  him  a  sufferer.  But  he 
was  habitually  cheerful.  He  had  strong  faith 
in  the  Covenant-God,  and  believed  all  things 
would  work  together  for  his  good.  He  thought 
the  Christian  had  much  to  be  thankful  for,  and 
15* 


174  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

abiding  ground  for  hope.  "Let  the  children 
of  Zion  be  joyful  in  their  King."  "When  he 
walked  or  rode  abroad  with  a  friend,  and,  with 
his  ardent  love  of  nature,  talked  of  the  gran- 
deur of  the  mountains,  or  the  beauties  of  the 
valleys,  he  found  an  argument  for  joy  in  all 
that  he  saw,  recalling  the  beautifal  lines  of 
the  pious  Cowper  : 

"He  looks  abroad  into  the  varied  field 
Of  nature,  and  though  poor  perhaps,  compared 
With  those  whose  mansions  glitter  in  his  sight, 
Calls  the  delightful  scenery  all  his  own. 
His  are  the  mountains,  and  the  valleys  his, 
And  the  resplendent  rivers.    His  to  enjoy 
With  a  propriety  that  none  can  feel, 
But  who  with  filial  confidence  inspired, 
Can  lift  to  heaven  an  unpresumptuous  eye, 
And  smiling,  say — '  My  Father  made  them  all.' " 

And  yet  he  was  subject  to  seasons  of  reli- 
gious depression,  and  was  often  distressed  by 
the  fierce  and  protracted  assaults  of  Satan. 
He  records  his  conflicts  with  the  adversary, 
and  his  attempts  to  escape  from  his  snares.  "I 
read  Hebrew,  I  read  theology,  I  write  sermons, 
but  I  can  neither  read  nor  write  myself  clear 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  175 

of  the  Gorgons  which  meet  me  at  every  turn." 
His  only  relief  was  found  in  looking  to  Jesus. 
He  is  the  Lord,  strong  and  mighty  in  battle. 
To  Him  he  carries  his  despondency  and  fear. 
By  and  by  the  dark  clouds  all  roll  away,  and 
the  heavens  are  full  of  glory.  "1  feel  that  I 
love  Jesus,  and  am  loved  by  Him."  Then, 
after  a  season  of  great  religious  enjoyment, 
depression  comes  again,  and  Satan,  taking 
advantage  of  the  exhaustion  induced  by  exces- 
sive joy,  renews  his  attacks,  and  the  buflfetted 
soul  realizes  that  unbroken  rest  is  not  to  be 
found  on  this  side  of  the  grave.  Sometimes 
he  would  waken  his  wife,  far  on  in  the  night, 
and  say,  "My  dear,  come  to  me,  I  am  in  the 
dark.  I  cannot  find  Him,"  He  had  spent 
nearly  all  the  night  in  agonizing  prayer  for 
the  light  of  God's  face.  Then  his  wife  would 
go  to  him,  tell  him  of  the  faithfulness  of  Jesus, 
take  him  by  the  hand,  as  if  he  were  a  little 
child,  and  lead  him  to  the  cross.  The  night  of 
weeping  was  succeeded  by  a  morning  of  joy. 

There  was  a  pious  widow  near  by,  to  whom 
he  would  sometimes  go  in  his  seasons  of  de- 


176  MEMOIR  OF  THE 

pression,  and  was  often  lifted  up  by  her  large 
and  loving  experience.  She  had  been  in  the 
fires.  Her  husband  had  gone  home  to  God, 
and  left  her  alone  with  Jesus.  She  had 
learned  precious  lessons  in  the  night  of  sorrow, 
and  had  the  tongue  of  the  learned  to  speak 
words  of  comfort  to  this  weary,  burdened  one. 
Eefreshed  by  christian  converse,  he  would 
say :  "  Though  He  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in 
Him.  I  will  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  and  joy  in 
the  God  of  my  salvation.  My  Saviour!  My 
Saviour!     He  died  for  me — on  the  cross!" 

One  day  he  left  his  study,  and  passed  into 
an  adjoining  room  that  he  might  tell  his  wife 
he  was  again  in  the  dark,  and  ask  her  to  pray 
for  him.  One  of  his  children,  then  three  years 
old,  was  playing  on  the  floor.  Whether  he 
comprehended  what  his  father  was  saying, 
cannot  certainly  be  told.  But  presently  he 
began  to  sing, 

"0,  do  not  be  discouraged, 
For  Jesus  is  your  Friend," 

and  having  sung  the  sweet  couplet,  went  on 
with  his  play.     His  father  was  moved  to  tears, 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  177 

and  went  away  to  cast  himself  on  the  tender 
compassion  of  the  Friend  who  was  born  for 
adversity. 

Physical  causes  had  doubtless  much  to  do 
with  these  seasons  of  despondency.  "It  is 
mine  infirmity"  which  often  beclouds  the 
mind,  and  almost  crushes  out  our  hope.  His 
friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Plumer,  whom  he  loved 
as  a  father,  comprehended  the  case,  and  after 
listening  to  a  sad  narration  of  his  experiences, 
through  the  darkest  months  of  his  life,  the 
good  Doctor  said:  "The  trouble  is  with  the 
physical.  It  is  worn  out.  You  need  rest. 
The  question  is,  how  to  get  it."  It  is  a 
pleasant  thought  that  physical  disorders  are 
unknown  in  heaven,  and  no  clouds  ever  cast  a 
shadow  over  the  soul  that  out  of  tribulation 
has  gone  thither. 

We  close  this  chapter  with  a  paragraph 
written  by  one  who  was,  for  many  years,  one 
of  Mr.  Thom's  most  familiar  friends.  "There 
was  a  childlike  simplicity  in  his  (Mr.  T's) 
christian  character,  Avhich  those  unacquainted 
with    him    would    not    appreciate.      I  often 


178  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

thought,  in  conversations  with  him  on  the 
subject  of  experimental  religion,  that  his 
views  were  singularly  clear  on  the  great 
saving  truths  of  the  gospel.  With  simple, 
yet  strong  faith,  he  clung  to  Christ  as  his 
Saviour,  and  showed  an  earnest  desire  to  be 
more  and  more  transformed  into  his  likeness. 
I  now  recall  with  melancholy  pleasure  the 
many  Sabbath  evenings  I  spent  with  him  at 
the  Seminary,  when  in  christian  confidence 
we  spoke  to  each  other  of  our  inner  life.  I 
love  to  think  of  him,  and  of  my  intercourse 
with  him.  And  while  with  gratitude  I  recall 
the  past,  faith  points  forward  to  the  time  when 
I  hope  that  the  sacred  and  delightful  com- 
munings of  earth  shall  be  renewed  in  heaven." 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  179 


CHAPTEK    X. 

THE  HUSBAND   AND  FATHER. 

Philip  Henry  was  wont  to  say:  "A  good 
Christian  will  be  a  good  father,  and  a  good 
husband,  and  a  good  master,  and  a  good 
neighbor,  and  so  in  other  relations,"  He  was 
undoubtedly  right.  One  who  was  questioned 
as  to  his  christian  integrity,  referred  the 
inquirer  to  his  family  for  the  desired  informa- 
tion. There  are  many  professors  of  religion 
who  fail  to  exhibit  the  beauties  of  holiness  in 
their  homes.  It  was  otherwise  with  Mr.  Thorn. 
Nowhere  did  he  manifest  the  graces  of  the 
Spirit  more  fully  than  in  his  family.  He  did 
not  need  to  be  reminded  of  the  apostolic 
injunction:  "Husbands  love  your  wives."  A 
more  affectionate,  considerate,  self-forgetful, 
devoted  husband,  the  writer  never  knew.  No 
one  could  spend  a  day  in  his  family  without 
being  impressed  with  his  loving  attentions  to 


180  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

his  wife  and  children,  and  the  spirit  of  piety 
which  characterized  every  word  and  act. 

His  was  a  happy  home.  The  little  house, 
removed  from  the  dusty  highway,  sheltered 
by  trees,  overshadowed  too  by  vigilant  love, 
and  surrounded  by  the  ministering  spirits  sent 
from  the  Father  above,  well  deserved  the 
designation  of  "Sunny  Side." 

One  who  spent  some  time  in  the  manse  says, 
he  never  before  had  seen  the  christian  graces 
so  manifested  in  any  household,  and  that 
during  his  sojourn  in  it,  influences  for  good 
were  brought  about  him,  "stronger  than 
hooks  of  steel." 

Mr.  Thom  was  very  attentive  to  the  little 
things  of  life;  little  acts  of  kindness,  expres- 
sions of  affection,  and  the  like.  Perhaps  no 
wife  ever  received  more  constant  and  delicate 
attentions  than  his.  It  was  his  joy  to  carry 
her  burdens.  Often,  when  weary  with  the 
labors  of  the  day;  he  insisted  that  he  would 
watch  with  the  sick  children  through  the 
night,  in  order  that  her  rest  might  be  undis- 
turbed. 


RKV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  181 

The  first  years  of  liis  married  life  were 
years  of  much  affliction.  He  said  there  was  a 
necessity  for  these  afflictions.  They  were 
evidently  blessed  to  his  spiritual  good,  and 
enlarged  his  sympathies  with  the  afflicted. 
God's  ministers  endure  much  sufFering  for 
their  people's  sake.  "Blessed  be  God,  even 
the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Father  of  mercies,  and  God  of  all  comfort; 
who  comforteth  us  in  all  our  tribulation,  that 
we  may  be  able  to  comfort  them  which  are  in 
any  trouble,  by  the  comfort  wherewith  we 
ourselves  are  comforted  of  God." 

When  his  first-born  son  was  less  than  a  year 
old,  he  was  taken  very  sick.  For  weeks  and 
even  months,  it  was  feared  the  child  would 
not  recover.  The  father  was  greatly  depressed, 
as  he  sat,  day  after  day,  in  the  shadow  of  an 
oncoming  sorrow  which  no  human  hand  could 
avert.  To  his  wife  he  said,  with  a  tone  of 
regretful ness:  "Instead  of  bearing  you  up,  my 
dear,  I  am  leaning  on  you,  like  a  tired  child: 
but  I  never  was  so  completely  unmanned." 
At  length  he  was  enabled,  in  calm  submission, 
1(5 


182  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

to  give  his  child  to  God,  and  then  God  gave 
back  the  child  to  him.  He  rose  from  that 
baptism  of  fire,  enfeebled  in  body,  but  with  a 
new  consecration  to  God,  who  had  afflicted  him 
in  love. 

Soon  after  this,  his  wife  was  prostrated  by 
violent  sickness.  Through  weeks  of  anxiety, 
he  could  scarcely  eat  or  sleep.  His  attentions 
were  constant.  God  brought  her  back  from 
the  gates  of  the  grave,  and  they  magnified  the 
name  of  the  Lord  together.  Those  months  of 
almost  sleepless  anxiety,  to  one  of  his  impul- 
sive, ardent  temperament,  told  unmistakably 
on  the  physical  man,  and  no  sooner  was  the 
stress  of  high-wrought  feeling  relaxed,  than 
the  overtaxed  strength  went  rapidly  down. 
Then  followed  the  death  of  his  father.  "The 
clouds  return  after  the  rain." 

He  endeavored  to  make  the  home  attractive 
to  his  children.  Beautiful  engravings,  and  oil 
paintings,  decorated  the  walls.  He  devised 
healthful  and  pleasant  amusements  for  the 
children,  and  so  varied  them,  as  to  prevent 
weariness,      He  ^nmse^   and    instructed   his 


REV.   JOnN   C.   THOM.  183 

boys  by  anecdotes,  of  which  he  had  an  inex- 
haustible store,  by  the  rehearsal  of  incidents 
in  his  own  life,  and  by  telling  them  of  beauti- 
ful scenes  he  had  witnessed  in  his  distant  jour- 
neyings.  Then  he  had  many  pleasant  talks 
with  them  about  Jesus,  the  children's  friend, 
and  endeavored  to  turn  their  hearts  to  Him  in 
the  mornins;  of  life. 

When  weary  and  worn  with  pastoral  labors, 
returning  late  in  the  day  from  long  rides,  and 
perhaps  with  some  burden  on  his  heart,  he 
often  said,  "Nothing  so  takes  the  tired  out 
of  me,  as  the  welcome  I  receive  from  my  wife 
and  boys."  His  physician,  who  was  present 
one  evening,  having  witnessed  the  joy  of  the 
children  on  their  father's  return,  remarked : 
"a  parent  cannot  come  home  to  such  a  scene, 
and  keep  very  gloomy  thoughts.  The  sound  of 
baby  voices,  the  touch  of  little  hands  climbing 
at  the  koees,  must  surely  drive  anxious  care 
away."  To  a  great  extent  it  was  so  in  the 
experience  of  the  father  to  whom  the  remark 
was  addressed. 

On  one  occasion,  when  absent,  his  eldest  boy 


184  MEMOIR    OF   THE 

endeavored  to  comfort  his  mother,  and  said 
he  would  take  his  fixther's  place.  She  inquired 
if  he  could  not  ask  God  to  bring  his  father 
to  him.  He  turned  aside,  lifted  his  hands,  and 
said:  "Please  God,  bring  papa  home  to 
mamma  and  Bertie,"  and  then  added — "God 
heard  Bertie's  voice."  The  father  came  home 
to  spend  a  few  days  with  the  family,  but 
received  no  welcome  from  his  boy,  who  was 
then  very  sick,  and  in  his  delirium  failed  to 
recognize  his  parent,  and  would  not  consent  to 
his  entering  the  room.  This  affected  Mr. 
Thorn  very  deeply,  and  he  could  not  refrain 
from  tears.  The  following  day  he  succeeded  in 
quieting  the  child,  and  took  the  little  sufferer 
in  his  arms,  who,  after  looking  long  and  inqui- 
ringly in  the  father's  face,  recognized  him,  and 
putting  his  arms  around  his  neck,  repeated 
over  and  over  again  his  expressions  of  love. 
The  father  wept  again,  but  now  for  joy.  This 
incident  shows  the  strong  bond  of  sympathy 
which  united  the  father  and  his  child,  and  the 
depth  of  the  parent's  affection. 

When  absent,  his  thoughts  were  so  much 


REV.  JOHN  C.  TeOM.  185 

given  to  his  family,  and  he  felt  so  concerned 
for  their  comfort,  that  he  did  not  derive  the 
advantage  from  his  occasional  vacations  which 
he  needed.  In  one  of  his  letters  to  his  wife 
occurs  the  following  expressions  of  solicitude 
for  her  health,  "  Your  system,  too  long  excited, 
shows  the  effects  of  over-exertion.  Remem- 
ber your  life  and  health  are  not  yours  alone. 
Another  heart  bleeds  in  every  throb  of  pain 
you  feel.  Another  spirit  looks  for  happiness 
to  that  which  animates  you.  Your  life  is  a 
double  one,  and  its  mission  double." 

His  success  in  controlling  his  children  was 
remarkable.  From  early  infancy  his  authority 
was  undisputed,  and  yet  he  was  gentle  and 
indulgent.  He  ruled  by  love.  The  times  for 
family  worship  were  so  arranged  that  all  might 
be  present,  and  he  endeavored  to  make  the 
service  attractive,  never  wearisome.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  family  devotions,  he  made  a  habit 
of  offering  a  special  prayer  for  the  boys,  after 
they  had  retired  at  night.  The  family  devo- 
tions in  the  evening,  were  always  observed,  for 
the  children's  sake,  immediately  after  the  even- 
16* 


186  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

ing  meal,  and  at  a  later  hour  the  parents  again 
committed  themselves  and  little  ones  to  the 
care  of  the  covenant-keeping  God.  Truly 
could  the  father  say,  "Seven  times  a  day  do  I 
praise  thee,  because  of  thy  righteous  judg- 
ments." 

One  evening,  after  he  had  prayed  with  his 
wife,  being  in  one  of  those  pensive  moods 
which  sometimes  came  over  him  when  he 
thought  of  his  children,  he  turned  to  his  wife, 
and  said:  "Dear,  I  don't  want  you  to  die,  and 
leave  me  with  the  care  of  these  boys.  Who 
could  manage  those  dispositions,  that  require 
such  peculiar  care  and  prudence,  so  well  as 
you.  A  father  never  can  keep  little  children 
with  him,  a  mother,  no  matter  what  her 
circumstances,  always  can."  These  twilight 
moments  were  among  the  sweetest  and  most 
sacred  in  the  lives  of  those  parents;  moments 
when  they  looked  forward  and  on  into  eternity, 
their  hearts  knit  lovingly  together  as  they 
talked  of  their  little  ones,  and  in  arms  of  faith 
committed  them  tq  Him  who  has  said,  "I  will 
be  a  God  unto  thee,  and  to  thy  seed  after  thee." 


REV,   JOHN   C.   THOM,  187 

His  faith  in  the  God  of  the  Covenant  was 
usually  strong.  To  the  mother  he  would  often 
say,  "Keep  near  the  cross."  When  she  was 
depressed  he  would  ask  her  to  cast  her  burden 
on  the  Lord,  and  trust  in  his  word.  "You 
lean  on  me  with  perfect  confidence.  You 
know  how  much  I  love  that  perfect  trust. 
You  tell  me  I  have  never  abused  it,  and  earth 
affords  me  no  greater  joy  than  to  hear  you  say 
so.  Just  so  Christ  would  have  you,  in  perfect 
confidence,  lean  on  Him.  You  are  weak. 
Tell  Him  so.  He  ofiers  you  His  strength. 
Trust  in  Him;  He  loves  to  have  you  do  it." 
Thus  he  threw  light  on  the  dark  places,  and 
helped  his  wife  to  lean  on  Him,  "on  whom 
archangels  lean." 

He  frequently  wrote  to  his  children  when 
absent  from  them.  Here  is  a  specimen. 
"  Good  morning !  two  boys !  How  are  you  this 
morning?  Are  you  good  boys,  and  kind  to 
your  dear  mother,  and  do  you  pray  every  day 
for  me?  I  am  down  by  the  big  sea.  Some- 
times I  see  great  fishes :.  one  day  a  porpoise, 
one  day  a  shark;  and  I  often  see  little  fishes, 


188  MKMOIU   OF   TUE 

herring,  and  flounders,  and  it  is  fine  sport  to 
catch  them.  Can  you  tell  me  of  any  one  the 
Bible  tells  about,  who  went  a  fishing?  Now, 
my  sweet  boys,  go  and  play,  and  be  kind  to 
one  another,  and  may  God  bless  you." 

Speaking  of  the  separation  from  his  family, 
when  in  a  western  city,  he  says:  "Enjoyment 
is  not  enjoyment  without  you,  my  dear  suifer- 
ing  wife.  God  bless  you  and  our  sweet  babes. 
...  But  dearest,  I  know  we  meet  at  the  feet 
of  Jesus.  I  know  our  elder  Brother  watches 
over  us.  If  I  could  not  commend  you  to  a 
covenant-keeping  God,  what  should  I  do? 
Now,  my  dear  wife,  my  heart  is  yearning 
after  you  and  our  dear  boys.  What  home- 
sick desires  I  feel,  as  I  count  the  days  that 

keep  me  from  you God  bless  you,  my 

love,  and  God  bless  our  dear  babes,  and  bring 
me  safe  home,  to  be  separated  as  seldom  as 
His  blessed  will  may  allow." 

Referring  to  the  brief  seasons  which,  unoc- 
cupied with  pastoral  duties,  were  spent  in  the 
home-circle,  he  says:  "Those  pleasant  mo- 
ments shed  their  light  backward  and  forward, 
till  all  my  life  looks  bright  for  them." 


EEV.    JOHN    C.   TUOM.  189 


CHAPTER   XI. 

M  I  S  C  E  L  L  A  N  E  ()  V  S      I-  K  T  T  K  11  S  . 

His  letters  were  necessarily  written,  as  a  rule, 
"  currente  calamo" — with  a  running  pen,  for 
he  was  greatly  pressed  with  labor.  They  are 
not  specimens  of  fine  writing,  but  simple,  and 
often  touching,  utterances  of  the  heart.  They 
are  eminently  spiritual.  As  he  made  it  a  rule 
to  speak  to  fellow-travelers  on  the  subject  of 
personal  religion,  so  also  to  write  many  things 
"touching  the  King."  His  correspondence  is 
fragrant  with  the  name  of  Jesus,  and  breathes 
the  spirit  of  one  who  lived  in  habitual  com- 
munion with  God. 

It  would  be  well  if  Christians  more  fre- 
quently availed  themselves  of  the  opportuni- 
ties furnished,  in  the  interchange  of  letters,  of 
doing  good  to  one  another,  and  of  pressing 
Christ  upon  the   acceptance   of  their  uncon- 


190  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

verted  friends.  In  tins  way,  precious  seed 
might  be  silently  deposited  in  many  minds, 
and  only  the  harvest- time  of  eternity  would 
reveal  the  fruitfulness  of  such  essays  to  do 
good.  Why  should  there  not  be  something  in 
every  letter  of  friendship,  which  shall  point  to 
the  future  world,  and  to  Him  who  is  the  way 
to  the  Father? 

For  reasons  already  given,  Mr.  Thom's  cor- 
respondence was  not  very  extensive.  From  the 
few  letters  which  have  come  into  our  posses- 
sion we  select  such  as  may  be  most  profitable 
to  the  reader,  and  exhibit  the  different  phases 
of  his  Christian  character. 

From  Natchez,  he  writes  thus  to  a  friend: 
"This  is  a  beautiful  world!  The  sweetest 
birds  and  the  loveliest  flowers,  the  rarest  per- 
fumes, and  the  clearest  sky,  are  around  me 
and  above  me.  All  nature  is  rejoicing  in  the 
full  bloom  of  spring,  and  such  a  spring,  to  a 
native  of  a  more  northern  climate,  is  astonish- 
ing, and  the  luxuriance  and  prodigality  of 
nature  here  cannot  be  conceived  without  being 
seen.     It  is  just  now  the  season  of  roses,  and 


REV.   JOHN   C.   TIIOM.  191 

every  garden,  lawn,  and  even  every  hedge- 
row, is  a  wilderness  of  fragrance  and  beauty. 
How  can  any  one  be  sad  in  such  a  paradise? 
Truly,  God  is  good.  But,  alas!  the  curse  is 
upon  it  all. 

'Every  prospect  pleases, 
And  only  man  is  vile'  " 

After  his  arrival  at  Princeton,  September 
10,  1857:  "I  have  closed  my  engagements  at 
the  south.  I  have  bid  adieu  to  friends  more 
endeared  than  I  had  hoped  to  find  in  the  land 
of  strangers.  With  many  a  heart-throb  I 
spoke  the  oft  repeated  farewell,  and  almost 
wept  when  the  fervent  'God  bless  you,'  fell 
on  my  ear.  I  climbed  the  great  father  of 
waters  to  where  'La  belle  reviere'  minoles  its 
clear  waters  in  the  turbid  flood.  I  swept 
across  the  great  prairies,  once  the  hunting 
ground  of  the  Indian,  and  the  pasture  of  his 
companion,  the  bison.  I  visited  the  Queen 
City,  climbed  her  observatory  hill,  and  gazed 
upon  the  sweltering  thousands  beneath; 
traversed  the  plains  of  Ohio,  smiling  with 
cultivation,   and   rejoicing   in   abundant   har- 


192  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

vests;  stopped  amid  the  smoke  and  soot  of 
Pittsburgh,  to  revive  the  most  delightful  asso- 
ciations man  is  privileged  to  enjoy — those  of 
friendship  and  aft'ection;  mounted  the  Alle- 
ghenies,  breathed  the  pure  mountain  air,  and 
rejoiced  in  the  untouched  tokens  of  God's 
power;  passed  through  the  valleys,  and 
among  the  hills  of  southern  Pennsylvania,  and 
Maryland;  climbed  the  Washington  monu- 
ment in  Baltimore,  and  looked  upon  the  city, 
its  crowded  streets,  magnificent  buildings, 
elegant  monuments,  the  bay  covered  with 
sails,  like  white  sea-birds  floating  in  the  dis- 
tance, the  country  beyond  stretching  away 
like  the  vanishing  creations  of  a  dream; 
passed  through  the  cedar  groves  of  Maryland, 
then  away  to  the  capitol,  then  to  Mt.  Vernon, 
thence  to  the  Quaker  City,  and  New  York ; 
back  again  to  my  home,  a  few  hours  of  repose, 
a  few  of  enjoyment,  a  few  of  travel,  and  here  I 
am,  in  the  school  of  prophets,  sitting  at  the  feet 
of  the  doctors  of  theology,  in  the  same  room 
where  Alexander  and  Miller  taught  young 
men  the  great   principles  of  the   gospel!     O 


REV.  JOllS   C.   THOM.  193 

Spirit  of  the  past,  if  yet  lingering  about  these 
walls,  inspire  me  with  •  zeal  to  pursue  in  the 
footsteps  of  the  worthies  who  have  gone 
before!  And  0!  Spirit  of  the  living  God, 
breath  into  my  soul  the  inspiration  Thou 
alone  canst  give." 

"Princeton,  Feb.  1,  1858.  I  have  sent  to 
Philadelphia  for  a  ticket  to  'Everett's  Wash- 
ington Oration.'  They  were  all  disposed  of 
before  any  were  publicly  offered  for  sale. 
Tickets  are  now  selling  for  three  dollars, 
which  at  first  cost  fifty  cents.  What  a  posi- 
tion for  a  man  to  occupy!  To  see  a  whole 
city  contending  for  the  privilege  of  even 
standing  to  hear  him  declaim  a  piece  he  has 
already  declaimed  nearly  seventy  times!  I 
would  rather  be  Everett  than  emperor  of  all 
the  Pussias,  and  yet  he  that  is  least  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  is  greater  than  he." 

To  an  afflicted  friend :  "  Two  days  ago  you 
were  trembling  with  apprehension.  Are  you 
now  weeping  with  bereaved  tenderness?  or 
giving  thanks  for  the  removal  of  His  rod? 
Shall  I  say,  'whom  the  Lord  loveth  He 
17 


194  MEMOIK   OF   THE 

chasteneth?'  or  'The  Lord  is  merciful  and 
gracious,  slow  to  auger,  and  of  tender  mercies?' 
I  can  say  both,  and  more — 'Trust  in  the  Lord, 
and  be  of  good  courage.  The  Lord  will  give 
grace  and  glory.'  The  first  time  we  ever 
talked  together,  we  spoke  of  the  wonderful 
adaptation  of  God's  consolations  in  His  word 
to  the  wants  of  the  human  heart.  We  both,  I 
trust,  know  far  more  of  them  now.  Let  us 
thank  Him  for  all  His  mercies,  of  which, 
strength  to  endure  to  this  time,  and  the  pro- 
mise of  strength  to  endure  unto  the  end,  are 
by  no  means  the  smallest.  Let  us  pray  to  be 
strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the  power  of  His 
might." 

To  another  in  affliction:  "I  am  sorry  you 
are  so  unwell  this  summer.  I  think  I  can 
sympathize  with  you  better  now  than  ever 
before.  God  always  intends  some  good  when 
he  afQicts  us.  He  desires  to  make  us  holier, 
happier,  or  more  useful  in  this  world,  and  to 
work  out  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory  in  the  world  to  come. 
That  is  what  makes  this  life  worth  living  for — 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  195 

the  ivorld  to  come!  0!  what  a  blessed  thing 
it  will  be  to  be  there,  and  count  over  all  God's 
mercies,  some  of  them  in  the  form  of  afflic- 
tions, but  all  of  them  mercies  still.  Some  of 
them  dark  and  mysterious,  but  all  good.  Let 
us  trust  Him  ever,  and  He  will  make  plain 
what  now  is  dark." 

To  a  dear  friend,  whose  home-circle  had 
been  entered  by  death,  he  writes  expressions 
of  tenderest  sympathy  and  words  of  comfort: 
"Your  letter  of  January  1st  came  to-day:  that 
sad,  sad  letter,  with  the  black  seal.  And  can 
it  be  that  she  has  lain  so  many  weeks  in  the 
cold  grave?  ....  And  that  poor  boy!  A  sad 
picture  comes  before  me,  painted  not  on  the 
memory,  but  on  the  heart,  when  I  too  wept 
my  baby  tears  at  a  desolate  fireside.  And  0 ! 
if  that  were  all!  If  the  first  burst  of  childish 
grief  could  remove  the  shadow  from  the  heart! 
But  that  darkens  and  darkens.  Poor  little 
orphan  boy!  May  God  take  thee  up!  And 
then,  too,  your  poor  brother!  I  see  him  yet, 
as  I  saw  him  kissing  the  cold  lips  of  his  first- 
born son,  and  I  know,  0!  how  well  I  know, 


196  .  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

the  strong  agony  which  the  rod  wrings  from 
the  bruised  heart,  when  we  see  our  homes 
blasted,  and  our  hopes  of  love  and  happiness 
all -swept  away  in  a  moment.  We  kiss  the 
rod  with  a  quivering  lip,  and  with  tremulous 
voice  and  broken,  we  cry,  'Father,  Thy  will 
be  done.'  Tell  your  brother  that  away  in  this 
far  country,  there  is  one  heart  that  shares  in 
the  sorrow  that  grows  up  from  her  grave,  and 
joins  in  the  earnest  cry,  'lead  us  to  the  Rock 
that  is  higher  than  we.'  The  Lord  hear  him 
in  the  day  of  trouble;  the  name  of  the  God  of 
Jacob  defend  him,  send  him  help  from  the 
sanctuary,  and  strengthen  him  out  of  Zion." 

When  at  the  Seminary,  having  heard  of  the 
sickness  of  a  student,  an  entire  stranger,  Mr. 
Thom  proposed  sitting  up  with  him,  and  was 
taken  to  the  sick  room  by  a  friend.  He  suc- 
ceeded in  soothing  the  nervous  suflerer  who 
remarked,  some  time  in  the  night,  that  he  had 
not  felt  so  comfortable  in  a  long  time,  and  in 
the  mornino;  beo'sred  his  kind  nurse  to  return. 
Mr.  Thom  was  glad  to  do  anything  in  his 
power  to  alleviate  suffering,  and  be  remained 


REV.  JOHN  C.  THOM.  197 

with  the  young  man  until  he  was  "carried 
home  by  the  angels."  lie  alludes  to  this  case 
in  the  following  letter.  "This  silent,  solitary 
chamber;  the  stillness  that  reigns  over  a 
hundred  sleepers;  the  adjacent  bed  of  death; 
the  melancholy  tale  of  him  who  died  alone, 
with  no  tenderer  hand  than  a  fellow-student's 
to  close  his  eyes — all .  cast  a  gloom  over  this 
dark  and  stormy  night,  fit  emblem  of  the  night 
of  life,  through  which  we  poor  pilgrims  are 
80  wearily  and  doubtfully  groping  our  way. 
But  the  dawn  lies  beyond.  'He  shall  a  pure 
and  heavenly  spirit  be,'  when  the  sufferings 
and  neglect  of  life  are  forgotten.  For  many 
years  the  grave  has  demanded  its  annual 
tribute  from  this  institution.  One,  every  ses- 
sion, bequeathes  his  uncompleted  labor  to  his 
fellows,  and  goes  to  present  himself  as  a  kind 
of  first-fruits  at  the  great  sanctuary  above. 
Whose  turn  will  it  be  next?  ....  You,  too, 
wrote  almost  from  the  chamber  of  death. 
And  is  your  dear  friend  in  the  General  As- 
sembly above?  The  fatliers,  where  are  they? 
and  the  prophets,  do  they  live  for  ever?" 
17* 


198  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

We  have  already  referred  to  his  interest  iu 
young  men.  It  was  a  great  pleasure  to  him 
to  write  to  students,  and  others,  who  had  gone 
out  from  his  congregation,  and  tliey  were 
equally  pleased  to  regard  him  as  their  pastor 
still,  though  far  removed  from  their  spiritual 
home.     To  one  he  writes, 

"January  6, 1862.     Dear  "W ,  I  was  glad 

to  receive  your  letter.  I  never  forget  my 
friends,  and  especially  my  people,  and  above 
all,  the  young  men  of  my  charge.  It  is  pleas- 
ant to  feel  that  I  in  turn  am  not  forgotten.  I 
can  sympathize  very  readily  with  you  as  I 
was  once  a  TzaidaycDjo::.  I  like  the  term  very 
well:  much  better  than  the  Latin  ludimajester, 

though  your  teachers  at  M combine  the 

meaning  of  both  in  a  high  degree.  To  excel  in 
leading  youth  both  in  literature  and  athletics, 
merits  no  small  praise.  I  am  not  at  all  sorry 
that  you  sometimes  feel  the  annoyances  and 
burden  of  teaching,  as  well  as  the  pleasures. 
They  are  as  necessary  to  give  you  moral  mus- 
cle, as  foot-ball  and  cricket  are  to  give  you 
physical.     But  there  is  a  higher  kind  of  mus- 


REV.   JOHN    C.  THOM.  199 

cle,  if  I  may  use  the  terra,  brought  out  by 
groans  and  tears,  wrung  from  us  by  trials  and 
agony.  Trials  are  as  needful  for  our  spiritual 
health,  as  exercise  for  the  bodily.  They  are 
necessary  for  our  religious  usefulness  also. 
I  doubt  much  whether  any  man  was  ever  able 
to  get  hold  of  the  deep-seated  passions,  and 
springs  of  human  action,  whose  own  soul  was 

never  refined  in  the  crucible Don't  say 

you  would  rather  suffer  something  else  than 
what  God  lays  upon  you.  He  knows  best. 
And  as  a  physician  prescribes  the  most  heal- 
ing nostrum  without  regard  to  its  taste,  and 
often  because  it  is  bitter  and  sickening,  so  God 
often  makes  us  suffer  till  our  soul  is  in  bitter- 
ness, to  bring  health  and  happiness  after- 
ward." 

Again  he  addresses  two  young  men: — 
"Dear  friends,  I  write  to  both  of  you  together, 
for  you  seem  very  much  like  brothers,  and 
members  of  my  own  family.     Some  time  ago, 

I  received  a  circular  from  A ,  asking  me 

to  dismiss  you  to  join  the  college  church.  I 
feel  a  little  as  a  father  does,  when  he  bids  good- 


200  ^       MEMOIR   OF   THE 

bye  to  his  boy  who  is  going  out  to  return  no 
more.  I  have  all  the  while  felt  that,  though 
you  were  away,  you  belonged  to  me.  But  it 
may  be  better  you  should  unite  with  the 
church  there.  I  leave  it  to  your  own  judg- 
ment, and  if  you  think  it  best,  present  the 
enclosed  certificate,  and  be  received  at  as  early 
a  day  as  you  can. 

"But,  my  dear  friends,  remember  that  you 
are  anywhere,  and  everywhere,  members  of  the 
body  of  Christ,  and  temples  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  see  that  you  keep  yourselves  holy  for  His 
sacred  service.  The  temple  of  the  Lord  is 
holy,  which  temple  ye  are." 

We  will   close  with  a  letter   written  from 

Bedford.     "Dear   Mrs.    L ,    I   have   been 

traveling  every  day  since  I  left  Waynesburg, 
except  Sabbath,  through  the  mountains  and 
through  the  valleys,  until  I  am  quite  glad  to 
sit  still  for  a  few  days.  This  is  a  beautiful 
region,  and  I  am  much  refreshed  by  seeing 
and  becoming  acquainted  with  brethren  in  the 
ministry. 

"I    saw    Mr.   B at    H .      Spent   a 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  201 

couple  of  hours  with  him,  in  a  mixture  of  sad 
and  pleasing  emotions.  His  expectations  of 
labor,  and  even  life,  are  extremely  low.  But 
I  cannot  say  he  is  cast  down.  He  lays  hold, 
with  the  strength  of  Israel,  on  the  Angel  of  the 
Covenant.  0!  how  he  does  talk.  I  could 
only  listen,  with  my  heart  in  my  throat,  and 
my  hands  over  my  face.  But  I  thank  God 
there  are  such  consolations  in  religion.  For  a 
a  man  in  the  vigor  of  life,  with  high  prospects 
of  usefulness  and  reputation  before  him,  to 
sink  into  silence,  and  drag  out  the  rest  of  his 
years  without  aim  or  hope,  is  hard.  But,  to 
see  all  this  done  cheerfully,  thankfully,  is 
glorious!  It  makes  one  think  more  of  the 
light  afflictions  which  are  but  for  a  moment, 
w^orking  out  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory.  I  feel  the  better  for 
my  tears.  May  God  give  us  grace  always  to 
lean  on  Him ! 

"I  have  met  an  unusual  number  of  friends 
and  acquaintances  of  other  years.  The  sight 
of  them  takes  me  back  to  the  times  when  life 
was  but  little  of  what  it  is  now." 


202  MEMOIR  OF  THE 

He  refers  to  the  want  of  comfort  in  preacli- 
ing  to  strange  congregations,  and  continues: 
"As  the  home-feeling  grows,  my  comfort  at 
home,  and  m  j  want  of  comfort  away,  increases. 
Last  Sabbath  we  celebrated  the  Lord's  Supper. 
We  had  a  precious  time,  and  the  Master  of 
the  feast  seemed  very  near.  How  strange, 
when  His  presence  is  so  sweet,  that  we  should 

grow  cold,  and  grieve  Him  away  again 

Pray  for  me,  and  for  the  whole  church*  for 
me,  that  I  may  return  strong  in  the  Lord,  and 
find  you  all  baptized  with  the  same  blessed 
Spirit." 


REV.  JOHN   0.   THOM.  203 


CHAPTEE    XII. 

CHAPLAIN    IN    THE    ARMY. 

As  a  result  of  excessive  labors  and  domestic 
afflictions,  during  the  third  year  of  his  minis- 
try, Mr.  Thorn's  health  was  so  much  impaired, 
that  his  congregation  urged  him  to  take  a 
vacation  of  six  weeks  or  two  months,  and 
made  provision  for  the  pulpit  during  his 
absence.  He  went  to  Bedford,  expecting  to 
derive  much  benefit  from  the  pure  mountain 
air,  and  the  mineral  waters,  which  attract  so 
many  invalids  to  that  pleasant  region.  He 
had  been  there  but  a  short  time  when  he 
received  a  telegram,  informing  him  that  his 
father  was  dangerously  ill.  He  started  imme- 
diately for  Eldersridge,  to  which  place  his 
father  had  removed  several  years  before.  He 
arrived  there  a  few  hours  previous  to  the 
death  of  his  venerable  parent,  and  by  en- 
couraging words  and  fervent  prayers,  brought 


204  MEMOIR  OF  THE 

comfort  to  the  aged  christian  in  bis  last  mo- 
ments. 

This  was  during  the  dark  days  of  our  na- 
tional history,  when  the  deep  foundations  of 
the  government  were  shaken,  and  brother  met 
brother  in  sanguinary  conflict.  At  this  par- 
ticular time  our  army  needed  reinforcements, 
and  Mr.  Thom  was  among  the  "drafted  men." 
Hearing  of  this,  he  returned  to  Waynesburg. 
He  would  not  allow  his  congregation  to  pay 
the  commutation  which  would  have  released 
him  from  military  service,  neither  would  he 
accept  a  substitute.  There  were  reasons  for 
this  course,  which  he  deemed  providential,  and 
imperatively  binding.  It  was  a  great  trial, 
but  he  met  it  with  an  unwavering  resolution. 

The  day  before  the  drafted  men  left  home 
was  communion  Sabbath.  It  seemed  to  every 
one  that  an  impenetrable  cloud  hung  over  the 
assembled  congregation.  There  was  a  death- 
like silence,  and  unwonted  solemnity,  through 
all  the  hours  of  worship.  At  the  close  of  the 
service  the  pastor  made  his  announcements. 
He  told  the  people  no  man  had  more  to  live 


EEV.   JOHN   C.   TIIOM.  205 

for  than  he,  and  yet  he  tliought  no  man  was 
more  willing  to  lay  down  his  life  for  his  coun- 
try, when  God  called  for  the  sacrifice.  His, 
perhaps,  was  the  only  calm  face  in  the  congre- 
gation. The  next  morning  "he  went  with  the 
men"  to  AVest  Chester,  the  designated  rendez- 
vous. Very  unexpectedly,  and  to  the  great 
joy  of  his  family  and  people,  he  was  released 
from  military  duty,  and  permitted  to  return 
home.  But  all  this  painful  experience  was  yet 
a  preparation  for  another  trial  which  was  not 
far  distant. 

An  incident  illustrative  of  his  sympathy  with 
the  suffering,  may  be  fitly  introduced  in  this 
connection.  In  the  early  part  of  the  next  win- 
ter, one  of  the  young  men  of  the  congregation, 
then  connected  with  the  army,  died  in  a  hos- 
pital near  Fredericksburg,  Yirginia.  He  was 
the  son  of  a  widow,  and  his  father  was  one  of 
the  godly  elders  who,  not  long  before,  had 
gone  to  his  peaceful  rest.  An  unavailing 
effort  had  been  made  by  an  only  brother  to 
secure  the  remains  of  the  deceased  soldier, 
The  grief  of  the  family  was  very  great.  Then, 
18 


206  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

with  his  characteristic  self- for getfulness,  Mr. 
Thorn  proposed  to  render  whatever  assistance 
he  could,  to  bring  home  the  dead.  He  went 
with  the  brother  to  Washington  City.  There 
he  found  it  impossible  to  get  the  necessary- 
passes.  The  army  was  expected  to  move 
within  a  few  days,  and  if  the  body  was  ever  to 
be  recovered,  immediate  effort  must  be  made. 
Through  the  kindness  of  Kev.  Dr.  Gurley,  Mr. 
Thom  was  sent  within  the  army  lines  as  a 
representative  of  the  Christian  Commission. 
He  had  made  no  arrangements  for  a  length- 
ened absence  from  home,  and  was  illy  pre- 
pared for  unavoidable  exposure  in  that  incle- 
ment season.  It  was  mid-winter,  and  the 
season  was  peculiarly  unfavorable.  With  an 
unpleasant  prospect  before  him  he  started 
alone.  He  suffered  much  from  cold  and 
fatigue,  and  it  was  several  months  before  he 
recovered  from  the  exposure  of  those  anxious 
weeks.  He  succeeded  in  his  errand,  and  to- 
day the  body  of  the  noble  young  soldier  sleeps 
with  his  fathers,  in  the  family  burial-ground. 
While  with  the  armv,  at  this  time,  we  are 


REV,   JOHN   C.   THOM.  207 

told  that  Mr,  Thorn  ministered  with  "womanly 
tenderness"  to  the  temporal  and  spiritual 
wants  of  the  soldiers,  and  doubtless  the  fruits 
of  that  service  have,  as  yet,  been  but  partially 
gathered. 

When  in  a  measure  recovered  from  the 
indisposition  which  followed  this  labor  of  love, 
he  accepted  an  invitation  to  spend  a  week  in 
Bedford,  The  church  in  that  place  was  enjoy- 
ing a  revival  of  religion,  and  the  pastor,  who 
up  to  that  time  had  labored  alone,  needed 
assistance.  For  a  few  days  Mr.  Thorn  preached 
with  considerable  difficulty,  and  but  little  free- 
dom. His  physical  condition  had  an  unfavor- 
able effect  on  his  spiritual  state,  at  least  so  far 
as  concerned  the  enjoyment  of  public  religious 
services.  He  felt  that  he  was  only  declaiming, 
not  preaching.  It  grieved  and  humbled  him. 
After  a  day  of  great  depression  and  much 
prayer,  he  went  to  the  evening  meeting  with  a 
feeling  of  utter  helplessness,  clinging  to  the 
suflftcient  grace  of  Christ.  He  preached  a  very 
simple  and  impressive  sermon.  It  was  an 
aftectionate  presentation  of  the  truth  concern- 


208  MEMOIR  OF   THE 

ing  the  Lamb  of  God,  and  souls  were  drawn 
to  the  embrace  of  the  Saviour's  love.  From 
that  time  onward,  during  his  stay  in  Bedford, 
he  preached  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and 
with  power.  Very  sweet  was  the  communion 
with  the  Beloveii,  and  the  joy  of  that  harvest- 
time  sliall  never  be  forgotten. 

From  Bedford  he  returned  home  with  a 
heart  all  aglow  with  love  to  Christ  and  souls. 
After  the  warm  welcome  from  his  family,  he 
called  his  wife  aside,  and  requested  that  she 
would  not  oversee  the  "special  dinner,"  nor  do 
anything  else,  until  he  had  told  her  what  the 
Lord  was  doing  for  the  people  among  whom 
he  had  labored  ?  Then,  with  a  beaming  coun- 
tenance and  full  heart,  he  spake  of  the  revival, 
and  the  precious  communings  enjoyed  with 
Jesus ;  after  which  they  knelt  together  at  the 
mercy-seat,  "where  friend  holds  fellowship 
with  friend,"  and  in  a  fervent  prayer  he  com- 
mended the  church  in  Bedford,  and  tlieir  pas- 
tor, to  the  Heavenly  Friend,  who  has  said, 
"Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway."  The  influence  of 
that  visit  lingered   with    him   through  many 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  209 

months.  He  preached  to  his  people  with  unu- 
sual unction  and  power,  and  his  own  advance 
in  the  Divine  life  was  continuous  and  joyous. 

At  a  later  period  he  preached  for  a  brief 
season  at  Coleraine,  Pennsylvania.  The  pas- 
tor, Eev.  C.  W.  Stewart,  gives  his  personal 
impressions  of  those  services:  "It  seemed  to 
me  that  Mr.  Thorn,  at  this  time,  was  fast  ripen- 
ing for  heaven.  There  was  an  indefinable 
something  about  his  manner  that  impressed 
me  deeply.  He  seemed  to  be  overwhelmed 
with  a  sense  of  responsibility  as  a  minister  of 
the  gospel,  and  preached  as  I  had  never  heard 
him  preach  before.  He  seemed  to  feel  that  he 
was  preaching  to  us  for  the  last  time,  and  told 
us  that  he  would  soon  stand  as  a  witness,  for 
or  against  us,  at  the  bar  of  God.  In  the  even- 
ing of  our  communion  Sabbath  he  preached  a 
sermon  to  the  unconverted,  which  made  a 
powerful  impression  upon  our  people.  During 
the  great  revival  in  our  church,  a  month  or 
two  later,  there  were  many  who  dated  their 
serious  impressions  from  that  solemn  dis- 
course." 

18* 


210  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

The  summer  of  1863  was  a  memorable  sea- 
son in  the  history  of  this  country.  Then  the 
southern  army,  under  General  Lee,  crossed  the 
Potomac,  and  invaded  Pennsylvania.  It  was 
the  culmination  of  rebellion,  and  the  darkest 
hour  in  all  the  long  years  of  the  cruel  war. 
Many  despaired  of  saving  the  nation  from 
utter  overthrow,  and  proposed  a  cessation  of 
hostilities.  A  larger  number  were  determined 
to  repel  the  invading  armies,  or  perish  in  the 
attempt.  One  day  a  telegram  was  received  at 
"Waynesburg,  stating  that  the  bridge  at  Colum- 
bia, Pennsylvania,  had  been  burned,  in  order 
to  check  the  progress  of  the  enemy,  then 
gathered  in  considerable  force  at  Wrightsville, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  That  night 
the  village  bells  were  rung,  and  the  people  of 
Waynesburg  and  vicinity  were  assembled  to 
consider  their  duty  to  the  country  in  this 
alarming  emergency.  Mr.  Thom  addressed 
them  in  a  very  eloquent  appeal  to  defend  their 
native  state,  their  homes,  and  all  that  was  dear 
to  them,  pledging  himself  to  go  with  any  who 
would  offer  themselves   for  military  service. 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  211 

Chiefly  through  his  influence,  a  full  company 
was  raised.  Mr.  T.  G.  Buchanan,  a  member  of 
his  congregation,  was  elected  captain  of  the 
company,  and  Mr.  Thom  took  his  place  in  the 
ranks  as  a  private  soldier.  Very  sad  was  the 
parting  from  his  family,  but  brushing  away 
the  tears,  and  commending  his  wife  and  boys 
to  the  care  of  Him  who  is  always  near,, he 
went  forth  to  meet  the  uncertain  issues  of  the 
approaching  conflict.  There  were  several  con- 
siderations which  determined  him  to  take  this 
course.  He  believed,  and  not  without  reason, 
that  very  few  volunteers  could  be  obtained 
unless  he  would  become  one  himself,  and  lead 
the  way.  Patriotism  prompted  the  personal 
consecration.  Then  he  felt  that  the  young 
men  of  his  congregation  would  be  exposed  to 
many  temptations,  and  he  wished  to  do  what 
he  could  to  preserve  them  from  the  vices  so 
prevalent  in  the  array.  He  acted  from  a 
solemn  conviction  of  duty,  and  never  had 
reason  to  regret  the  part  he  performed.  The 
company  went  to  Lancaster,  and  thence  to 
Harrisburg. 


212  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

Shortly  before  tlie  organization  of  the  regi- 
ment, a  spirit  of  defection  manifested  itself  in 
the  company  from  Waynesburg.    Some  wished 
to  return  home;  others  murmured  against  the 
government    regulations,    and    the    majority, 
(there  were  honorable  exceptions,)  were  con- 
templating a  refusal  to  take  the  usual,  oath  of 
fidelity.     This  becoming  known  to  Mr.  Thom, 
he  was  filled  with  anxiety.     He  felt  that  every 
available   man  was   needed  in  those   perilous 
times.   The  honor  of  his  townsmen  was  at  stake, 
.and  the  existence  of  the  regiment  depended  in 
no  small  extent  upon  the  faithfulness  of  "Com- 
pany C."     He  determined  to  prevent,  if  possi- 
ble, a  meeting    jjroposed  by  the   disaffected. 
Accordingly  he   assembled   the   company,  as 
usual,  for  morning  prayers  and  roll-call ;  after 
which   he   requested    the    men   to   remain   a 
moment,  intimating  that  he  had  a  word  to  say 
to  them.     He   then   told  them   what  he  had 
heard,  and  what  grief  it  had  occasioned  him. 
He  spoke  of  the  condition  of  the  country,  the 
peril  of  their  homes,  and  the  disgrace  of  pas- 
sive  submission   to   invasion.      His   address, 


REV.    JOHN   C,   TOOM.  213 

which  is  reported  to  have  been  "very  eloquent 
and  soul-stirring,"  concluded  with  the  declara- 
tion: "As  for  myself,  I  would  rather  die  like 
a  dog,  than  live  a  coward."  The  effect  was  all 
he  desired.  All  complaints  were  hushed,  and 
every  man  solemnly  pledged  himself  to  help 
drive  the  enemy  beyond  the  Potomac. 

When  arrived  at  Harrisburg,  there  was  but 
little  delay  in  organizing  the  regiment,  the 
•i7th  P.  Y.  M.,  and  Mr.  Thorn  was  appointed 
Chaplain.  From  Harrisburg  he  wrote  to  his 
wife:  "I  got  here  safely  last  night  about  dark, 
I  was  not  sick  coming  up,  as  I  feared  I  would 
be,  but  feel  very  well  to-day.  0!  how  good 
God  has  been  to  me.  I  am  sure  I  love  Him. 
I  have  never  felt  so  sure  of  it  as  I  have  done 
during  these  days,  which  otherwise  were  days 
of  great  affliction  and  distress.  I  am  now  in 
the  way  of  being  well  cared  for.  I  am  much 
refreshed,  I  need  not  say  my  eyes  are  dim, 
and  my  heart  yet  feels  the  pressure  of  yours 
in  our  sad  good-bye,  I  have  felt  very  heavy 
and  full  of  tears  ever  since.  But  I  hope  God 
will  m.ake  us  all  the  happier  for  our  suffer- 


214  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

ings.  God  bless  you,  my  dearest.  /  canuot 
bless  you  as  I  would.  Tell  Bertie  to  be  a 
good  boy  and  pray  for  papa.  Tell  Willie  I 
think  of  him,  and  pray  for  him  every  day,  and 
don't  let  him  forget  me.     O!  how  his  joyous 

'papa,  papa,'  rings  in  my  ears Write  to 

Harrisburg,  47th  Pegiment  P.  M.,  care  of  Col. 

Wickersham Now  may  you  lean  on  our 

Beloved.    Yours,  J.  C.  Thom." 

The  regiment  left  Harrisburg  as  soon  as  its 
organization  was  completed,  and  marched  to 
the  Potomac  just  in  time  to  see  the  Con- 
federate army  cross  into  Virginia.  It  re- 
mained encamped  for  several  weeks,  doing 
picket  and  guard  duty,  and  was  then  ordered 
to  Schuylkill  county,  to  assist  in  keeping  the 
miners  quiet,  and,  after  a  short  time  of  service 
there,  was  mustered  out  in  Heading,  the  latter 
part  of  August. 

In  this  connection  we  will  introduce  a  few 
extracts  from  letters  addressed  to  Mrs.  Thom. 

"July  4,  1863.  I  am  in  such  a  state  of 
excitement;  that  I  can  scarcely  trust  myself  to 
write.     We  are  in  fearful  saspense  in  regard 


REV.    JOHN   C.    THOM.  215 

to  the  battle  now  raging.  I  am  completely 
"unmanned.  I  have  been  weeping  like  a  child, 
and  am  now  choking  back  the  tears  with  the 
utmost  effort.  But  I  can  keep  them  away 
noiu.  The  marks  on  this  page  are  the  tears  of 
heaven  over  the  bloody  field.  I  am  in  the  big 
tent  of  the  Christian  Commission,  and  it  is  not 
proof  against  such  a  rain  as  this.  You  will 
know  the  truth  before  this  reaches  you,  but 
the  rumors  are  most  painful,  and  the  men  are 
sent  forward  with  a  despatch  that  shows  there 
is  dreadful  urgency.  God  make  us  another 
Independence  day  of  this!  ....  Last  night 
there  was  preaching  in  the  tent,  and  I  was 
enjoying  the  sermon  very  much,  when  a 
violent  rain  came  on,  and  a  terrific  peal  of 
thunder  shook  the  earth.     In  a  moment  more 

Keese  H came  in,  and  rushing  up  to  me, 

said  one  of  our  men  was  struck.  I  hastened 
away,  and  ordered  the  poor  fellow  to  be  drawn 
out  into  the  pouring  rain  until  a  surgeon 
could  be  obtained.  But  life  was  gone.  His 
name  is  Erb,  came  from  near  Lancaster,  is  the 
son  of  a  wealthy  German  farmer.     I  attended 


216  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

to  the  poor  boy,  walked  through  the  flooded 
camp,  waded  through  ditches,  got  clean  cloth- 
ing, washed  him  with  my  own  hands,  dressed 
him,  and  laid  him  out  as  well  as  I  could,  and 
then  at  midnight  laid  down  in  my  wet  clothes 

on  the  ground,  and  slept  till  morning I 

am  very  well.  I  don't  even  feel  tired.  I  dried 
myself  at  the  camp-fire,  and  am  quite  comfort- 
able. Tell  Mr.  Buchanan  to  send  down  for 
Mr.  Reed,  to  preach  some  Sabbath,  soon.  I 
cannot  tell  you  how  kind  he  was  to  me.  I  am 
glad  to  hear  that  the  hearts  of  our  people  are 
stirred  up.  I  hope  my  absence  will  do  more 
good,  through  God's  grace,  than  my  presence. 

God  bless  you,  my  dear  wife.     Go  to 

Jesus  with  all  your  troubles.  Kiss  my  sweet 
boys." 

At  a  later  date,  he  writes  of  his  religious 
enjoyment:  "I  have  been  greatly  refreshed. 
We  have  delightful  meetings  here,  in  the  big 
tent;  precious  gatherings  around  the  throne 
of  grace  at  our  camp,  and  sweet  communings 
in  the  tent.  There  are  rebel  prisoners  here  all 
the  time.     I  talk  to  them  often,  and  give  them 


REV.   JOUX   C,   THOM.  217 

tracts.  .  .  .  Now,  dearest,  you  will  no  doubt  be 
too  busy  all  the  day  to  think  much,  but  at 
night  don't  weep.  Think  of  our  blessed  Lord, 
who  is  the  bond  between  christians.  Kiss  our 
dear  babes.     God  bless  you,  my  sweet  wife." 

The  whole  term  of  military  service  was  not 
long,  but  it  was  very  hard  on  the  men.  They 
bad  to  make  long  marches  without  the  needed 
facilities  for  transportation.  Their  rations 
were  poor,  and  distributed  irregularly.  Not 
being  accustomed  to  such  exposure,  quite  a 
number  of  them  were  attacked  with  fever  and 
other  diseases.  Some  twenty  or  thirty  were 
lying  sick  at  one  time  in  an  old  mill  near 
Hagerstown,  which  was  used  as  a  hospital. 

The  Chaplain  of  the  regiment  was  a  favorite 
from  the  first.  He  not  only  performed  the 
duties  of  chaplain,  but  also  those  of  post- 
master, nurse,  comforter,  adviser,  and  keeper 
of  the  peace.  He  frequently  walked  long  dis- 
tances to  e;et  the  regimental  mails.  No  mother 
could  wait  more  tenderly  on  a  child,  than  he 
did  on  the  sick,  in  the  old  mill.  He  went 
among  the  citizens  of  Hagerstown,  and  pro- 
19 


218  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

cured  delicacies  for  the  sick  soldiers.  He 
interested  some  beuevolent  ladies  in  their 
behalf,  who  visited  them,  and  brought  them 
medicines,  and  suitable  articles  of  food.  And 
when  the  regiment  was  ordered  away,  he 
remained  behind  until  he  saw  those  who  were 
too  ill  to  accompany  it,  properly  cared  for. 
As  if  by  instinct,  he  seemed  to  find  out  wher- 
ever there  was  despondency,  fault-finding, 
or  ill-feeling,  among  the  soldiers,  and  under 
his  treatment  the  usual  evils  of  camp  life 
seemed  to  disappear.  Says  Colonel  Wicker- 
sham,  to  whom  the  writer  is  indebted  for  much 
of  the  foregoing  information :  "  There  are  those 
I  know,  who  can  date  the  beginning  of  their 
christian  life  from  a  talk  with  our  chaplain  in 
front  of  a  tent,  or  around  a  camp-fire.  Mr. 
Thorn's  discourses  in  the  army  were  short, 
pointed,  practical,  and  well  suited  to  the  cir- 
cumstances of  those  to  whom  he  spoke.  His 
preaching  was  not  only  popular  with  the 
soldiers  of  his  own  regiment,  but  also  with 
those  of  other  regiments  encamped  in  its 
vicinity,  who   frequently  came  to    hear   him, 


REV.   JOHN    C.    TIIOM.  219 

and  the  services  were  often  attended  by  citi- 
zens, both  ladies  and  gentlemen.  On  one  Sab- 
bath afternoon  in  particular,  a  hundred,  or 
more  people,  came  out  to  camp  from  Hagers- 
town,  to  attend  our  religious  services,  the 
ladies  bringing  tea  and  toast  in  one  hand  for 
those  who  were  sick,  and  carrying  hymn- 
books  and  Bibles  in  the  other.  I  am  free  to 
sa}'-,  that  in  all  my  experience,  I  never  met  a 
man  so  wholly  unselfish,  so  perfectly  willing 
to  make  sacrifices  for  the  good  of  others. 
Toward  myself  he  ever  exhibited  all  the  kind- 
ness of  an  affectionate  brother." 

The  statements  made  by  his  friend,  the  colo- 
nel of  the  regiment,  were  fully  confirmed  by 
the  officers  and  soldiers  generally.  Every  one 
loved  the  chaplain.  His  influence  seemed 
almost  like  magic.  A  word,  a  look,  a  visit, 
or  a  gift  from  him,  seemed  to  win  the  soldier's 
heart  at  once.  The  love  he  received  was  mer- 
ited, for  he  counted  no  toil  or  pain  too  great, 
if  he  could  relieve  the  sick,  or  comfort  and 
encourage  the  desponding.  By  kind  atten- 
tions, and  an  example  of  consistent  goodness, 


220  MEMOIR  OF   THE 

he  made  new  friends  every  day.  He  was  not 
only  highly  estemeed  by  his  own  regiment, 
but  he  secured  the  good-will  and  admiration 
of  nearly  all  in  the  Brigade,  for  there  were  few 
that  did  not  know  the  chaplain  of  the  47th. 
The  most  profane  uttered  no  oaths  in  his  pres- 
ence, and  confederate  prisoners  treated  him 
with  utmost  respect.  He  sought  the  spiritual 
good  of  friend  and  foe,  and  his  memory  in  the 
hearts  of  those  who  were  converted  by  his 
ministry,  or  comforted  by  his  loving  words,  is 
like  the  sweetest  perfume,  and  shall  never  die. 
Colonel  Wickersham,  (for  several  years  Prin- 
cipal of  the  State  Normal  School  at  Millers- 
ville,  and  more  recentl}^  State  Superintendent 
of  Common  Schools  in  Pennsylvania,)  became 
warmly  attached  to  Mr.  Thorn.  The  affection 
was  mutual,  and  these  two  friends  spent  at 
least  a  few  pleasant  hours  together  after  "The 
cruel  war  was  over."  The  Principal  of  the 
Waynesburg  Academy,  now  Rev.  E.  W. 
Wherry,  was  -with  his  pastor  throughout  this 
term  of  military  service,  and  bears  aftectionate 
testimony    to    his    faithfulness    in    all    duty. 


REV.   JOHN   C.  THOM.  221 

Another  wlio  was  warmly  attached  to  him, 
says,  "I  never  shall  forget  one  occasion  of 
great  interest,  at  the  close  of  which,  the  men 
shouted,  'God  bless  our  beloved  chaplain,' 
and  then  rent  the  air  with  their  thrice-repeated 
cheers." 

When  abont  to  be  mustered  out  of  service, 
the  company  which  he  had  been  mainly  instru- 
mental in  raising,  gave  him  a  large  and  beau- 
tiful photograph  album,  as  a  token  of  their 
appreciation  of  his  singular  kindness  and 
fidelity. 


19* 


222  MEMOIR   OF  THE 


CHAPTEE  XIII. 

LAST       DAYS       AT       W A V N E S B C R G  . 

After  his  return  from  the  army,  he  immedi- 
ately resumed  his  work  among  his  own  peo- 
ple. His  health  was  not,  good,  but  his  labors 
were  continued  without  intermission,  until 
he  was  transferred  to  another  charge.  He 
preached  with  great  faithfulness.  There  were 
sad  evidences  of  spiritual  declension.  There 
had  been  much  to  divert  the  attention  of  the 
people  from  the  great  interests  of  religion. 
They  had  passed  through  troublous  times,  and 
some  roots  of  bitterness  had  sprung  up  among 
them.  Iniquity  abounded,  and  the  love  of 
many  had  grown  cold.  He  adapted  his  preach- 
ing to  the  condition  of  the  church.  He  warned, 
exhorted,  and  entreated. 

As  the  result  of  faithful  labor,  in  public  and 
private,  there  was  a  gradual  improvement  in 
the  condition  of  the  church  generally,  and  in 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  223 

one  part  of  his  field  there  were  special  indi- 
cations of  the  Spirit's  presence.  "At  St. 
Marks,"  (formerly  an  Episcopalian  Church,) 
said  the  pastor,  "we  have  had  many  precious 
meetings,  and  Jesus  was  in  the  midst.  His 
appeals  to  the  unconverted  were  more  than 
usually  solemn.  He  seemed  to  have  a  presen- 
timent that  his  work  was  nearly  ended. 
With  the  earnestness  of  one  who  apprehended 
the  awful  wrath  of  God,  he  solemnly  told  his 
unconverted  people  of  danger,  and  then 
besought  them,  with  great  affection,  and 
earnest  pleadings,  to  take  refuge  in  Jesus 
from  the  gathering  storm.  There  were  sev- 
eral cases  of  hopeful  conversion.  He  thanked 
God  and  took  courage." 

Several  times  during  his  ministry  in 
Waynesburg,  he  had  been  invited  to  preach 
as  a  candidate  before  other  churches  which 
were  considered,  by  those  extending  the  invi- 
tations, as  presenting  wider  fields  of  useful- 
ness. He  was  called  to  the  church  in  Colum- 
bia, Pennsylvania,  and  there  were  many  con- 
siderations in  favor  of  the  change.      But  he 


22-i  MEMOIR  OF  THE 

did  not  feel  satisfied  that  it  was  his  duty  to  go, 
and  the  call  was  declined.  He  preached  a 
Sabbath  in  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  after  the 
resignation  of  Eev.  W.  W.  Eells,  and  was 
strongly  urged  to  suffer  his  name  to  be  presen- 
ted as  a  candidate  for  that  charge,  but  he 
replied  that  he  believed  God  still  had  a  work 
for  him  in  Waynesburg,  and  discouraged  a 
call,  which,  if  it  had  been  formally  made,  he 
would  have  felt  constrained  to  decline. 

In  May,  1865,  he  was  invited  to  visit  the 
Pine  Street  Church  in  St.  Louis.  This  church, 
for  several  years,  had  been  served  with  great 
acceptance  by  Rev.  Dr.  S.  B.  McPheeters.  In 
consequence  of  troubles  growing  out  of  the 
condition  of  the  country,  Dr.  McPheeters'  pas- 
toral relation  to  that  people  had  been  dissolved. 
Mr.  Thom  went  to  St.  Louis  in  the  month  of 
July,  and  preached  on  three  consecu  tive  Sab- 
baths. His  preaching  made  so  favorable  an 
impression  on  the  people  that  a  unanimous 
call  to  the  pastorate  of  that  church  was  exten- 
ded to  him  soon  after.  Before  he  left  the  city, 
he  was  informed  that  a  call  would  be  given 


REV.   JOHN   C,   THOM.  225 

him,  and  he  was  asked  to  consider  the  subject 
of  removal  soon,  in  anticipation  of  formal 
action  on  the  part  of  the  church,  as  it  was 
very  desirable  that  the  vacancy  should  be 
filled  at  an  early  period.  His  state  of  mind  in 
reference  to  so  important  a  question,  may  be 
gathered  from  letters  written  to  his  wife,  near 
the  close  of  his  visit.  "I  don't  want  to  come 
to  St.  Louis,  unless  my  Heavenly  Father  says 
come^  so  clearly  and  imperatively  that  there  can 
be  no  mistaking  His  will.    Ma}''  God  direct  us. 

During   my   whole   stay    here,    I   have 

been  enabled  to  draw  nearer  than  usual  to  His 
throne,  and  to  put  more  implicit  trust  in  His 
wisdom  and  love.  May  He  ever  keep  us  near 
His  side." 

Again  he  writes:  "The  issues  are  with  God. 
He  has  singularly  managed  and  controlled 
this  whole  matter  from  its  beginning.  Let 
Him  do  with  us  as  seemeth  Him  good,  and 
blessed  be  His  holy  name." 

After  his  arrival  home  the  acceptance  of  this 
call  was  urged  in  several  letters,  written  by 
members  of  the  congregation.    He  was  greatly 


226  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

perplexed  for  a  time,  and  set  apart  a  season  of 
fasting  and  prayer  for  Divine  direction.  "  I 
pray  constantly,  Lord,  do  with  me  as   Thou 

wilt.     Let  me  have  no  will  but  Thine 

Lord,  what  Avilt  Thou  have  me  to  do."  When 
at  length  persuaded  that  it  was  his  duty  to  go 
to  St.  Louis,  he  at  once  addressed  himself  to 
the  work  of  preparation  for  the  removal.  One 
consideration,  which  had  much  influence  on 
his  mind,  was  that  of  health.  To  one  unac- 
quainted with  his  peculiar  physical  condition, 
it  might  occur  that  the  change,  from  a  country 
to  a  city  charge,  would  be  unfavorable  in  this 
respect.  But  his  experience  at  Natchez  had 
been  such  as  to  encourage  the  hope  that  a 
warmer  climate,  and  one  more  removed  from 
the  sea,  would  be  highly  advantageous.  He 
had  never  been  so  well  as  in  the  south.  The 
climate  of  eastern  Pennsylvania,  subject  to 
sudden  changes,  and  the  atmosphere  often 
ladened  with  saline  moisture,  had  always  been 
detrimental  to  his  health.  But  the  great  ques- 
tion, and  one,  as  he  believed,  clearly  and 
af&rmatively  answered,  was,  "  has  the  Lord  a 


■REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  227 

work  for  me  to  do  in  St.  Louis?"    Then  I  will 
leave  all  other  interests  in  his  hands. 

He  was  warmly  attached  to  tlie  church  in 
Waynesburg.  It  was  his  first  charge.  It  was 
hard  to  sunder  the  ties,  so  strong  and  tender, 
which  bound  him  to  that  people.  He  had 
thought  to  comfort  the  aged  in  their  last  years, 
and  lay  them  to  rest  in  the  quiet  church-yard. 
He  had  thought  to  stay  long  with  his  spiritual 
children,  helping  them  by  counsels  and  pray- 
ers, to  stand  fast  in  the  Lord.  He  had  thought, 
through  many  years,  to  care  for  the  children 
of  the  church,  on  whose  heads  he  had  sprinkled 
the  waters  of  baptism.  True,  there  had  been 
times  of  discouragement,  when  he  felt  it  might 
be  well  for  him  to  go  elsewhere.  But,  like 
the  magnetic  needle,  which  disturbed  for  a 
little,  soon  returns  to  its  rest,  and  points  to  the 
pole,  so  when  the  question  of  removal  came, 
and  occasioned  anxious  inquiries  as  to  duty,  it 
had  been,  before,  only  for  a  brief  season,  and 
his  heart,  clinging  to  his  first  love,  refused  to 
transfer  its  alfectious  to  others. 

But  now  a  voice  says:  "This  is  the  wav, 


228  ;memotr  of  the 

walk  in  it,"  and  he  must  not  disobey.  Then 
there  was  a  mingling  of  opposite  emotions. 
To  occupy  so  important  a  position  as  that  to 
which  he  had  been  called;  to  labor  for  Christ 
in  a  centre  of  so  great  influence;  to  enjoy  the 
varied  advantages  of  residence  in  a  pleasant 
city, — all  these,  and  other  considerations,  made 
him  thankful  in  the  midst  of  sorrow. 

One  day  he  was  conversing  with  a  friend  in 
reference  to  the  proposed  change.  He  was 
deeply  sincere  in  his  conviction  that  God  was 
calling  him  to  the  west,  and  as  he  spake  with 
much  earnestness  of  St.  Louis,  the  pride  of  the 
south-west,  a  controling  centre  in  the  valley 
of  the  Mississippi,  drawing  its  commerce 
through  great  navigable  rivers,  and  railroads 
extending  to  the  Atlantic,  and  ere  long  to 
reach  the  Pacific,  and  alluded  to  the  necessity 
of  Christian  effort  in  that  growing  city,  which, 
through  Gods  blessing,  would  be  felt  along 
the  radiating  lines  of  trade  and  travel,  his 
friend  felt  that  it  was  his  duty  to  go,  and 
hoped  that  he  would  become  a  tower  of 
strength  to  our  beloved  church  in  that  western 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  220 

city.  But  he  adds:  "I  saw  how  great  was  the 
struggle,  and  how  severe  the  suffering  he 
endured,  in  separating  himself  from  the  people 
among  whom  he  had  labored  so  long.  It  was 
like  tearing  up  by  the  roots  a  strong  and 
vigorous  oak  which  years  of  storm  and  sun- 
shine had  firmly  set  in  its  parent  soil ;  with  it 
must  come  much  of  the  deep  subsoil  imbedded 
about  and  beneath  its  trunk." 

His  last  sermons  were  very  impressive,  and 
the  precious  truths  he  uttered  on  those  sad 
Sabbaths  are  treasured  in  many  loving  hearts. 
In  a  discourse  on  John  xiv.  27,  "Peace  I 
leave  with  you,  my  peace  1  give  unto  you," 
&c.,  the  following  passages  occur,  "  There  is 
a  pathetic  interest  attached  to  the  parting  of 
friends.  When  by  long  intercourse  and  mu- 
tual sympathy  we  are  bound  to  each  other  by 
bonds  of  strong  affection,  there  is  a  tenderness 
experienced  in  the  hour  of  separation  which 
makes  every  word  thrill  through  the  soul.  I 
have  looked  through  my  tears  into  tear-dim- 
med eyes,  and  heard  farewells  that  will  ring 

in  my  ears  until  my  dying  day This 

20 


230  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

interest  is  increased  and  deepened  when  we 
feel  that  the  parting  is  a  final  one.  I  have 
often  pictured  to  myself  the  sad  company  that 
went  with  Paul  a  little  way,  when  he  started 
on  his^  last  journey  to  Jerusalem,  sorrowing 
most  of  all  at  the  words  which  he  spake,  that 
they  should  see  his  face  no  more.  They  were 
his  companions  in  labor;  the  heroic  women 
who,  in  spite  of  the  terrors  of  the  heathen  mob, 
had  ministered  to  his  wants,  and  listened  to 
his  teachings;  and  there  too  were  his  spiritual 
children,  as  yet  mere  babes  in  the  word,  who 
needed  instruction  and  care,  and  who  entreated 
that  they  might  be  with  him.  IIow  melting 
were  their  appeals  when  they  prayed  him  not 
to  go!  How  much  more  eloquent  their  silence, 
when  Paul,  struggling  with  his  emotions, 
cried  out:  'What  mean  ye,  to  weep,  and  break 
my  heart!'" 

Several  weeks  before  he  left  Waynesburg 
there  was  an  unusual  amount  of  sickness 
among  the  people.  Typhoid  fever  swept  over 
the  community.  There  were  few  families  it 
did  not  enter,  and  in  many  households  there 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  231 

was  at  least  one  vacant  chair.  There  seemed 
a  sickness  in  the  very  air.  Deep  awe  settled 
down  on  almost  every  home.  The  people 
spoke  in  subdued  tones,  and  a  care-worn  or 
anxious  expression  sat  on  every  face.  It  was 
such  a  time  as  must  be  felt  in  order  to  be 
understood,  and  being  felt,  can  never  be  for- 
gotten. Such  were  his  last  days  in  Waynes- 
burg.  He  was  much  among  the  sick  and 
dying,  and  continually  pressed  with  all  the 
care  and  anxiety  incident  to  removal  from  a 
much  loved  home.  He  had  no  time  for 
general  visiting,  and  as  many  of  his  people  as 
were  able  to  leave  their  homes  called  on  him. 

Great  was  the  grief  of  the  church.  The 
sorrow  was  general.  Very  touching  were  the 
last  interviews  of  pastor  and  people.  Memory 
reverts  to  them  with  tears,  and  revives  the 
sadness  of  the  parting  hours.  In  one  house 
the  sad  farewell  was  spoken  at  the  bed-side 
of  a  sick  child.  After  the  stricken  house- 
hold had  joined  their  beloved  minister  in  the 
last  prayer  he  offered  in  their  home-sanctuary, 
with   an   almost   breakinf^c   heart,  the  mother 


232  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

said:  "For  all  I  am  as  a  Christian,  I  am  in- 
debted, under  God,  to  you."  And  then  with 
deep  emotion,  spoke  of  her  great  unwillingness 
to  have  him  go  to  another  people. 

In  another  family  was  a  dying  girl.  The 
shadow  of  death  was  on  her  face  when  he 
stood  beside  her  bed.  She  could  not  see  him, 
but  she  knew  his  voice,  and  that  tender  touch 
who  could  mistake?  She  raised  her  thin 
white  hand  and  laid  it  in  his,  saying:  "My 
dear,  pastor  I  do  love  you,  and  I  love  Jesus." 
This  she  repeated  many  times,  and  then,  in 
faltering  accents,  invoked  God's  blessing  on 
the  head  of  the  weeping  servant  of  Christ.  A 
little  after,  she  went  home  to  Jesus,  and  the 
Good  Shepherd  more  than  filled  the  pastor's 
place. 

Further  on  was  a  sick  child,  cared  for  by 
strangers.  There  was  an  unnatural  brilliancy 
in  her  eye,  and  her  whole  appearance  was  cal- 
culated to  melt  the  heart  in  deepest  piety. 
The  child  thanked  him  in  saddest  tones.  He 
wept  with  her,  and  then  gave  her  his  last 
benediction. 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  233 

There  was  another,  a  woman  of  peculiar 
cares,  of  a  meek,  quiet,  and  loving  spirit,  who 
walked  a  long  distance  to  meet  her  pastor  in 
his  own  home.  Great  was  her  grief  to  learn 
that  he  was  absent,  but  she  was  assured  he 
would  not  leave  without  calling  on  her.  Late 
in  the  evening  he  went  to  see  her.  Thej  wept 
together.  She  said,  "I  fear  we  will  never 
meet  again."  He  replied,  "I  hope  we  shall 
have  many  sweet  meetings  on  earth,  but,  if 
God  has  ordered  otherwise,  let  us  prepare  to 
meet  in  heaven.     Tltere  are  no  sad  partings." 

Standing  on  another  day,  beside  a  grave,  in 
which  the  remains  of  a  dear  youth  had  been 
deposited,  the  bereaved  mother  came  to  him, 
weeping,  and  said:  "0!  Mr.  Thom,  how  can  I 
part  with  you?"  Then  she  pointed  to  the 
grave  of  her  only  daughter,  and  said:  "I  had 
to  part  with  her,  and  must  I  give  you  up  too?" 
He  looked  at  her  with  unspeakable  tenderness, 
took  her  hand  in  his,  and  said:   ''God  bless 

you,  Mrs.  W .     Look  upward."     He  could 

say  no  more.     It  was  not  long  until  through 

flowing  tears  she  looked  upward  to  that  un- 

20* 


234  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

clouded  land  whither  the  spirit  of  her  loved 
pastor  had  gone. 

There  was  an  aged  Christian  woman  who 
lived  in  an  humble  cottage  beyond  the  moun- 
tain, several  miles  away,  whom  he  went  to  see 
late  at  night.  This  godly  woman  consecrated 
her  son  to  Jesus,  and  to  the  work  of  missions, 
when  a  helpless  babe  he  lay  in  the  cradle. 
The  offering  was  accepted.  He  gave  himself 
to  Jesus  in  early  life,  and  went  as  a  missionary 
to  Africa.  One  day,  when  sailing  near  the 
coast,  he  was  drowned.  When  the  sad  news 
reached  the  mother,  she  wept  for  a  little,  then 
dried  her  tears,  as  she  thought  of  the  sweet 
home  above,  and  said:  "Well,  George  is 
nearer  to  me  in  heaven,  than  he  would  have 
been  in  Africa."  With  a  sad  heart  the  pastor 
left  this  dear  Christian  woman.  She  was  very 
feeble,  and  seemed  to  be  quite  near  the  grave. 
As  he  rode  home,  far  on  in  the  night,  he  said 
to  the  friend  beside  him:  "I  fear  I  shall  never 
see  that  good  mother  in  Israel  again,  till  I 
meet  her  in  the  house  not  made  with  hands." 
Contrary  to  all  probability  she  outlived  him, 


REV.  JOHN   C.  TIIOM,  235 

and  sent  messages  of  sympathy  to  bis  widow, 
after  he  had  gone  home  to  God. 

The  last  Sabbath  came,  and  the  last  sermon 
was  preached,  with  an  open  coffin  before  the 
pulpit.  He  told  his  people  he  could  not 
preach  a  farewell  discourse,  but  would  address 
them  in  a  simple  gospel  sermon,  about  One 
who  is  altogether  lovely.  He  preached  from 
the  words:  "I  have  loved  thee  with  an  ever- 
lasting love."  (Jeremiah  xxi.  3.)  Near  the 
close  of  his  sermon,  which  was  but  partially 
written,  he  made  this  prophetic  remark:  "Per- 
haps on  the  distant  shores  of  eternity,  I  shall 
be  permitted  to  watch  for  your  coming,  and 
wait  to  welcome  you,  as  one  by  one,  you  enter 
the  eternal  home."  He  made  a  few  remarks 
to  his  spiritual  children,  closing  with  these 
words:  "My  little  children,  love  one  another, 
and  may  that  everlasting  love,  which  is  all  my 
desire  and  all  my  hope,  be  and  abide  with  you 
all  for  ever."  This  was  uttered  in  a  tone  so 
touching,  that  it  will  never  be  forgotten.  His 
last  utterance  was:  "0!  my  people,  my  heart's 
desire   and   prayer  to   God  is,  and   long  has 


236  MEMOIR  OF   THE 

been,  that  you  might  all  be  saved."  Then 
followed  the  prayer,  the  solemn  hymn,  the 
last  benediction,  and  his  work  in  Waynesburg 
was  ended. 

Ilis  last  hours  were  spent  with  his  noble- 
hearted  physician,  whose  steadfastness  was 
manifested  in  the  dark  days  that  followed,  and 
then,  with  his  wife  and  boys,  he  turned  away 
from  the  only  home  they  were  ever  permitted 
to  enjoy  together.  They  knew  it  not,  and  it 
was  well. 

"We  have  had  our  May,  my  darling, 
And  our  roses  long  ago, 
And  the  time  of  the  year  is  coming,  ray  dear, 
For  the  silent  night  and  the  snow! 

"And  God  is  God,  ray  darling, 
Of  night,  as  well  as  of  day; 
We  feel  and  know  that  we  can  go, 
Wherever  he  leads  the  way. 

"Ah,  God  of  the  night,  my  darling, 
Of  the  night  of  death  so  grim: 
The  gate  that  leads  out  of  life,  good  wife, 
Is  the  gate  that  leads  to  Him." 


REV.  JOHN   C.   THOM.  237 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

DEATH      AT     ST.      LOUIS,      MISSOURI. 

Leaving  behind  him  the  people  for  whom  he 
had  cared  so  kindly,  and  to  whom  he  had 
preached  so  faithfully  for  over  seven  years; 
looking  for  the  last  time  on  the  home  where 
his  boys  had  been  born,  where  the  love-light 
had  never  grown  dim,  but  had  increased  with 
every  trial,  he  hastened  to  his  work  in  St. 
Louis,  stopping  only  a  short  time  at  Bedford, 
and  Blairsville,  Pennsylvania,  leaving  his 
family  at  the  latter  place. 

God  has  said,  "Thou  knowest  not  what  a 
day  may  bring  forth."  We  long  to  know 
what  lies  in  the  future,  and  think  that  if  we 
could  foresee  the  results  of  causes  which  we 
have  set  in  operation,  or  the  consequences  of 
relations  we  propose  to  form,  then  we  could 
advance  with  a  calm,  intelligent  step,  and 
bring  to  a  desirable  consummation  the  plans 


238  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

of  life.  But  there  are  no  available  sources  of 
information;  no  voice  in  the  winds,  no  pro- 
phecy in  the  stars,  no  foreshadowing  of  events 
in  the  flight  of  birds,  or  the  course  of  the  tem- 
pest. Superstition  has  sought  the  heights  and 
the  depths  for  the  coveted  knowledge.  His- 
tory has  thought  to  trace  the  future  by  bor- 
rowing light  from  the  past.  Philosophy  tells 
of  general  laws  and  secondary  causes ;  still 
the  veil  is  unlifted,  and  the  word  of  God  is 
unchanged:  "Ye  know  not  what  shall  be  on 
the  morrow." 

The  best  matured  plan  may  issue  in  disap- 
pointment; the  most  endearing  relation  may 
terminate  in  an  hour,  and  prospective  good 
may  disappear  like  the  mists  of  the  morning. 
The  Christian  religion  teaches  us  that  God 
directs  our  steps,  and  orders  our  lot.  The 
Infinite  Mind  traces  the  pathway  of  the  future, 
then  spreads  His  cloud  upon  it.  We  must 
walk  by  faith,  and  not  by  sight. 

Then,  too,  the  dispensations  of  Providence 
are  often  mysterious.  There  is  darkness  be- 
hind, as  well  as  before  us.     "Thy  way  is  in 


KEY.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  239 

the  sea,  and  Thy  path  in  the  great  waters,  and 
Thy  footsteps  are  not  known."  It  was  a  sad 
day  to  many  when  Judson  and  Newell,  with 
their  wives,  left  their  native  country  to  labor 
among  the  heathen  in  a  far-off  land.  With  a 
strong  conviction  of  duty,  a  calm  trust  in  God, 
and  the  hope  of  great  usefulness,  these  first 
missionaries  went  forth  to  their  blessed  work. 
A  few  months  pass  by,  and  the  sad  intelli- 
gence reaches  this  country  that  Harriet  Newell 
is  dead !  On  the  Isle  of  France,  almost  in 
sight  of  her  proposed  field  of  labor,  she  awaits 
the  morning  of  the  resurrection.  How  dark 
the  providence!  Though  in  some  respects 
peculiar,  this  case  is  a  representative  of  a  great 
multitude.  The  subject  of  the  present  Memoir 
is  one  of  these.  He  had  scarcely  entered  on 
his  work  in  St.  Louis  when  God  met  him, 
changed  his  countenance,  and  took  him  away. 
He  commenced  his  labors  in  the  Pine  Street 
Church,  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  October,  1865. 
After  preaching  three  Sabbaths,  he  was  sud- 
denly recalled  to  Pennsylvania,  by  the  danger- 
ous illness  of  his  eldest  boy.     The  journey 


240  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

was  one  of  great  anxiety.  He  had  but  little 
expectation  of  seeing  his  child  alive.  Arrived 
at  a  railroad  station  near  Blairsville,  a  friend 
met  hira  with  the  pleasant  intelligence  that  his 
little  son  was  much  better,  and  supposed  to  be 
out  of  danger.  When  he  entered  the  sick 
chamber,  his  face  was  brightened  with  hope, 
and  his  first  expression  was  one  of  gratitude, 
"My  darling,  God  is  good."  His  next  thought 
was  to  secure  rest  for  his  wife,  by  taking  upon 
himself  the  almost  exclusive  care  of  the  child. 
On  Sabbath  morning  he  preached  for  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Hill,  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  When 
urged  to  preach  again,  at  night,  his  wife 
remonstrated,  on  the  ground  that  he  needed 
rest.  He  replied,  with  that  tenderness  of 
manner  which  marked  his  last  days,  even 
beyond  his  habit:  "My  dear,  I  feel  that  I 
cannot  lose  this  opportunity  of  speaking  for 
Jesus." 

During  the  two  weeks  that  he  sat  at  the 
bedside  of  his  suffering  boy,  the  fresh  baptism 
of  the*  Holy  Spirit,  which  had  evidently 
descended  upon  hira,  was  such  as  to  fill  the 


RKV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  241 

mind  of  his  wife  with  an  indefinable  dread. 
She  could  not  analyze  her  feelings,  but  she 
experienced  an  exceeding  longing  to  be  in  St. 
Louis,  with  all  her  dear  ones  around  her,  and 
no  separation  in  prospect.  A  great  sorrow 
was  casting  its  shadow  before. 

As  soon  as  it  was  practicable  to  leave  his 
family,  Mr.  Thorn  returned  to  St.  Louis.  He 
left  Pittsburg  on  Thursday  night,  October 
26th,  hoping  to  reach  the  end  of  his  journey 
on  Saturday.  But  detentions  on  the  way 
delayed  his  arrival  until  Sabbath  morning. 
Though  very  weary,  and  suffering  from  the 
unusual  exposures  of  the  journey,  he  prepared 
himself  for  the  Sabbath  services,  and  preached 
both  morning  and  evening.  It  was  observed 
by  many  that  his  health  was  much  impaired. 
The  causes  for  this  were  obvious.  But,  though 
very  unwell,  he  preached  two  consecutive  Sab- 
baths, lectured  on  Wednesday  evenings,  con- 
ducted the  usual  prayer-meeting  on  Friday 
evening,  and  commenced  pastoral  visitations. 
On  the  second  Sabbath,  his  physician.  Dr. 
Marshall,  who  was  also  one  of  the  elders  of  the 
21 


242  MEMOIR    OF   THE 

church,  noticing  that  he  was  greatly  indisposed, 
urged  him  to  omit  the  night  service.  He  re- 
plied, "I  will  wait  until  evening,  and  see  how 
I  feel."  He  went  home  with  his  friend,  Mr. 
Ferguson,  and  rested  during  the  remainder  of 
the  day.  He  was  again  urged  to  desist  from 
preaching,  but  a  sense  of  duty  constrained  him 
to  make  the  attempt.  He  selected  for  his  text, 
Matt.  xxi.  28.  Instead  of  entering  the  pulpit, 
he  stood  on  the  platform  in  front  of  it.  He 
preached  with  great  earnestness  and  power, 
and,  as  he  subsequently  remarked  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Niccolls,  "with  great  joy  to  his  own  soul." 
Before  pronouncing  the  benediction,  he  rose 
and  said:  "the  rapid  throbbings  of  my  pulse 
admonish  me  to  say  one  word  more."  Then 
he  urged  his  hearers,  with  great  solemnity,  to 
to  accept  Christ  and  His  great  salvation.  The 
scene  was  strangely  impressive.  Many  thought 
it  ominous  of  an  event  which  soon  followed. 
His  work  was  done.  His  last  public  appeal  to 
sinners  was  spoken,  and  he  left  the  Pine  Street 
Church  never  to  enter  it  again — alive. 

He  went  that  evening  to  the  house  of  a  kind 


REV.    JOHN   C.   THOM.  243 

Christian  lady,  (Mrs.  Fcnby)  where  he  remained 
until,  after  a  painfal  illness  of  three  weeks,  his 
spirit  went  home  to  heaven.  In  the  family 
alluded  to,  he  received  every  attention  he 
needed.  Drs.  Marshall,  and  Johnson;  the 
elders  of  the  church,  and  the  ministers  of  the 
city,  did  all  they  could  to  alleviate  his  suffer- 
ings, and  comfort  him  in  his  affliction.  Sev- 
eral ladies  ministered  to  him  with  affectionate 
sympathy,  and  unwearied  patience.  Stricken 
and  grateful  hearts  cherish  the  memory  of 
those  kind  attentions,  and  invoke  heavenly 
benisons  on  the  heads  of  those  who  gave  them. 
The  Master  says,  "I  was  sick,  and  ye  visited 
we."  And  the  female  servant  who  cared  so 
faithfully  for  the  dying  man,  and  mourned  so 
bitterly  for  him  when  dead,  is  not  forgotten, 
either  here  or  in  heaven.  The  lowly  Saviour, 
Christ  in  all,  give  her  a  place  in  the  kingdom 
of  His  glory ! 

During  the  early  part  of  his  sickness,  Mr. 
Thom  was  much  concerned  for  his  family. 
They  were  then  with  Mrs.  Thom's  brother.  Dr. 
W.  C.  Bracken,  in  Ohio.     He  was  frequently 


244  MEMOIR  OF  THE 

heard  to  say,  "  What  will  become  of  my  poor 
wife!"  A  dear  friend  who  came  every  day 
and  arranged  his  bed,  because  he  fancied  it 
was  more  comfortable  when  she  made  it, 
urged  him  to  send  for  Mrs.  Thorn.  But  with 
his  usual  self-forgetfulness,  he  said  he  could 
not  think  of  asking  her,  when  so  worn  with  the 
care  of  sick  children,  to  undertake  the  journey. 
At  length,  however,  he  consented.  He  wished 
the  news  of  his  sickness  to  be  conveyed  to 
her  in  a  manner  that  would  not  excite  unne- 
cessary alarm.  He  also  requested  a  telegram 
to  be  sent  to  Eev.  Mr.  Nixon,  in  Indianapolis, 
asking  him  to  assist  her  in  making  the  change 
of  cars  at  that  city.  Subsequently,  in  his  deli* 
rium,  he  was  greatly  distressed,  supposing 
some  great  evil  had  befallen  her.  She  came 
with  her  little  boys,  immediately  after  she  was 
apprised  of  his  condition.  The  eldest  child 
was  then  convalescent,  but  the  younger  bro- 
ther was  dangerously  ill  when  they  arrived  in 
St.  Louis,  Mrs.  Thom  was  quite  unprepared 
to  find  her  husband  so  much  reduced.  When 
she  entered  the  sick  room,  the  wonted  smile 


REV.   JOHN   C.  THOM.  246 

and  warm  welcome  were  wanting.  There  was 
an  expression  of  intense  suffering  in  his  face. 
He  extended  his  tremulous  arms,  and  em- 
braced, first,  his  wife,  and  then  his  darling 
boys.  It  was  several  moments  before  he 
spoke,  and  then  he  said  to  his  wife:  "This  is  a 
sad,  sweet  meeting,  dear.  I  have  suffered 
greatly,  but  I  am  better  now."  He  then  made 
some  inquiries  about  the  journey,  and  she 
replied  briefly.  Then  looking  at  her  very 
earnestly,  he  said,  "You  are  a  brave  woman." 
After  a  little,  he  insisted  that  she  should  go  to 
another  room  and  rest,  which,  to  gratify  him, 
and  yet  very  reluctantly,  she  did. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  he  said,  "I 
begin  to  indulge  the  hope  that  I  shall  live  and 
not  die,  that  I  may  declare  the  glory  of  God. 
For  a  while  I  thought  my  recovery  doubtful." 
Two  days  later,  on  Saturday,  Mrs.  Thom,  who 
was  watching  her  sick  boy  in  an  adjoining 
room,  thought  he  called  her.  She  hastened  to 
his  bed  and  asked  him  what  he  wished.  He 
said  he  had  not  called  her.  "I  was  just  asking- 
God  to  make  me  well."  With  all  the  cheer- 
21* 


246  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

fulness  she  could  command,  she  said,  "Will 
He  not  doit?"  He  replied,  sadly,  "I  don't 
know." 

A  great  deal  of  the  time  he  was  engaged  in 
prayer,  and  often  spoke  of  the  goodness  of 
God,  and  the  preciousness  of  Christ.  Con- 
versing with  a  friend,  he  referred  to  his  minis- 
try, and  said:  "It  seems  to  me  that  I  have 
new  views  of  the  Saviour,  and  that  if  I  am 
spared,  I  can  preach  as  I  never  before  have 
done."  His  thoughts  were  often  with  the 
church.  He  was  anxious  that  the  pulpit  should 
be  supplied,  and  suggested  plans  for  promoting 
the  growth,  and  increasing  the  efficiency  of 
the  church.  Often  in  his  delirium,  fancying  he 
was  in  the  pulpit,  he  would  rise  from  his  pil- 
low and  entreat  those  who  were  near  him  to 
love  Jesus.  Then  he  would  follow  his  pathetic 
appeals  with  prayer,  and  on  one  occasion, 
announced  the  hymn  beginning, 

"  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way 
His  wonders  to  perform." 

At  another  time  he  extended   his  trembling 
hands  and  said,  in  thrilling  accentSj  that  moved 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  247 

all  to  tears,  "  My  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to 
God  for  you  all,  is  that  you  may  be  saved" — 
his  parting  words  to  the  church  at  Waynes- 
burg. 

One  day,  when  Mrs.  Thorn  entered  his  room, 
he  said,  "  I  have  had  refreshing  sleep."  She 
did  not  fully  catch  his  remark,  and  supposing 
he  had  spoken  of  receiving  grateful  food  from 
some  friend,  asked  who  had  sent  it.  He 
replied,  '*  God,  for  so  He  giveth  His  beloved 
sleep."  At  night  he  called  Mr.  Niccolls,  who, 
at  his  request,  had  lain  down  in  an  adjoining 
room;  "Come  to  me,  for  I  am  passing  through 
deep  waters."  Mr.  Niccolls  talked  with  him, 
directed  his  attention  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  and' 
then  prayed  for  him.  Presently  he  was  com* 
forted,  and  said,  "Now,  go  and  lie  down  again, 
for  I  am  not  alone."  After  this,  his  friend  tells 
us,  "No  doubt  clouded  his  mind,  no  fear  dis- 
turbed the  joyful  repose  of  his  soul.  His  faith 
seemed  to  lift  him  up  into  the  Divine  presence, 
and  he  saw  everything  from  that  great  centre 
of  the  soul's  life — Jesus  Christ.  This  was 
manifested  even  in  the  delirium  produced  by 


248  MEMOIR   OF  THE 

his  disease.  As  on  some  wrecked  ship,  whose 
timbers  are  parting  to  the  blows  of  the  waves, 
the  compass  still  points  true  to  the  north, 
undisturbed  by  the  ruin  around,  so  his  faith, 
while  all  else  was  wild  and  disordered  at  the 
approach  of  death,  looked  forth  clearly  and 
unfailingly  to  Him  who  has  conquered 
death." 

For  several  days  he  was  very  much  dis- 
tressed for  his  sick  child,  often  ejaculating, 
,  "My  poor  boy!" — "My  poor  boy!"  When  he 
was  told  that  the  physicians  entertained  no 
hope  of  his  child's  recovery,  he  seemed,  for  a 
moment,  to  be  pleased  with  the  thought  of 
having  his  boy  go  with  him  to  heaven.  He 
made  an  effort  to  speak,  but  was  only  heard 
to  say,  "  Arms — tender — Shepherd,"  Then  he 
turned  to  his  wife,  with  a  look  of  unutterable 
pity,  which  it  almost  seemed  must  bear  her 
away  with  him,  and  said:  "But  I  am  so  sorry 
for  you."  Presently  his  eldest  son  was  brought 
to  his  bedside.  "This,"  said  Mrs.  Thom,  "is 
your  first-born,  the  son  of  your  love.  What 
is  your  message  to  him?"    All  the  unbounded 


REV.   JOHN   C.  THOM.  249 

affection  of  the  father  beamed  from  his  face  as 
he  looked  upon  his  boy.  He  kissed  him,  and 
then  said:  "Bertie,  put  your  hands  on  my 
face."  Then  turning  to  the  mother,  added: 
"Tell  him  always  to  love  Jesus." 

One  evening  the  elders,  who  were  watching 
with  him,  adjusted  his  pillow,  and  he  seemed 
to  recognize  them.  He  said,  in  a  distinct 
voice:  "Now  I  will  give  you  my  blessing," 
and  then  pronounced  upon  them  such  a  bene- 
diction as  can  only  come  from  the  borders  of 
the  unseen  world. 

On  Sabbath  morning,  the  26th  of  Novem- 
ber, his  symptoms  became  more  alarming. 
Then,  for  the  first  time,  his  wife  realized  his 
danger,  but  forced  back  the  wail  of  agony  into 
her  breaking  heart,  and  shut  it  there.  Kind 
friends  said  they  would  watch  Avith  the  sick 
child,  for  now  it  mattered  not  who  ministered 
to  him,  as  he  recognized  no  one.  The  hours 
of  Sabbath  night  crept  on,  and  the  life  of  the 
minister  was  waning.  "I  have  no  hope,"  said 
Mr.  Niccolls,  "but  in  the  prayer  of  faith." 
When   the   morning   came,    "No   hope,"  was 


250  MEMOIR  OF  THE 

written  on  every  face.  During  an  interval  of 
consciousness,  he  endeavored  to  speak  to  his 
wife.  Mr.  Niccolls  caught  the  words  and 
repeated  them.  "  He  is  telling  you  how  much 
he  has  loved  you;  how  much  he  loves  you 
now ;  how  happy  you  have  always  made  him." 
Then,  with  a  rapturous  look,  and  in  clear, 
loud  tones,  which  all  could  hear,  Mr.  Thom 
added:  "But  0!  to  see  Jesus — to  see  Jesus! — 
O !  the  joy  of  seeing  Jesus!" 

At  another  time  he  turned  to  his  wife  with 
a  look  of  inexpressible  affection,  which  startled 
all  in  the  room.  It  seemed  as  if  the  love  of  a 
whole  lifetime  was  concentrated  in  that  one 
look.  He  then  commended  her  to  Jesus,  the 
ever-living  and  all-sufficient  Friend. 

On  Monday  morning  his  breathing  became 
very  difficult,  and  continued  so.  Not  long 
before  he  died,  Mr.  Niccolls  asked  him  if  he 
knew  his  wife,  who  stood  at  his  bed-side ;  but 
he  made  no  reply.  When  asked  again  who 
was  speaking  to  him,  he  could  not  tell.  But 
when  asked,  still  further,  if  he  knew  Christ,  he 
replied  with  a  smile:  "O,  yes,  He  is  all  my 


REV.   JOHN   C.  THOM.  251 

salvation,  and  all  my  Joy."  Shortly  after,  he 
uttered  aloud  an  earnest  prayer  for  the  church. 
About  midnight  Mr.  Niccolls  again  asked  him 
if  he  knew  his  wife.  He  replied,  "I  do  know 
my  sweet  wife.  Where  is  she?"  She  bent 
over  him,  and  he  endeavored  to  raise  his  arms, 
but  he  could  not  do  it  unaided.  Mr.  Niccolls 
and  Mr.  Ferguson  assisted  him,  and  he  took 
his  wife's  face  between  his  hands  and  tried  to 
speak.  Only  one  word  was  heard — "heaven." 
He  never  spoke  again.  A  little  while  after 
Mr.  N.  said:  "Mr.  Thom,  if  you  are  still 
trusting  in  Jesus,  raise  your  hand."  His  ges- 
ture told  that  he  was  still  clinging  to  the  pre- 
cious Lamb  of  God.  The  morning  came,  and 
his  spirit  passed  so  quietly,  and  so  sweetly 
away,  that  the  little  group  in  the  death- 
chamber,  scarcely  knew  when  it  was  gone. 
Presently  some  one  remarked:  "He  is  dead." 
Just  then  a  bright  angel  opened  the  gate  of 
heaven,  and  said:  "Alive  forevermore."  It 
was  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  Nov,  28,  1865. 
Mr.  Niccolls  offered  a  very  touching  prayer, 
giving  back  the  soul  to  God,  thanking  Him 


252  MEMOIR   OF   THE 

for  a  life  so  beautiful  and  so  useful,  and  the 
widow  calmly  closed  the  eyes  which  had 
never  looked  upon  her  but  in  purest  love. 
He  died  in  the  36th  year  of  his  age. 

The  funeral  services  were  held  in  the  Pine 
Street  Church  on  the  Thursday  following. 
The  remains  of  the  departed  servant  of  God 
were  placed  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  the  place 
from  which  he  had  spoken  his  last  words  as 
an  ambassador  of  Christ.  The  coffin  was 
wreathed  with  flowers  entwined  by  the  hands 
of  affection.  The  sermon  was  preached  by 
Rev.  Samuel  J.  Niccolls,  the  warm  and  stead- 
fast friend  of  the  deceased.  The  Rev.  Thomas 
A.  Bracken,  of  Lebanon,  Kentucky,  (Mrs. 
Thom's  brother,)  and  Miss  Lavinia  Thom,  (the 
sister  of  the  departed  minister,)  were  the  only 
relatives  who  witnessed  the  sad  solemnities  of 
that  funeral  day.  Rev.  Drs.  Brooks,  and  An- 
derson, with  Reverends  McCook,  Mutchmore, 
and  others,  participated  in  the  services.  The 
remains  were  then  conveyed  to  the  Bellefon- 
taine  Cemetery,  and  were  interred  in  a  plea- 
sant  spot,  dedicated  for  the   purpose  b^  Mr. 


KEY.   JOHN   C.   THOM,  253 

Whitehill,  a  venerable  and  beloved  elder  of 
the  Pine  Street  Church.  The  bereaved  con- 
gregation erected  a  suitable  monument  over 
the  grave,  on  which  was  engraven  the  name 
and  age  of  the  deceased,  and  the  simple  in- 
scription, 

SAVED    BY   grace: 

the  theme  of  his  ministry  on  earth,  and  the 
burden  of  his  song  in  heaven. 


22 


S  E  EM  0  N 


THE  RESURRECTION. 


REV.  JOHN  C.  THOM. 


The  following  sermon  is  introduced  as  an  appropriate 
conclusion  to  the  Memoir  of  the  author.  Though  less  care- 
fully prepared  than  many  of  his  discourses  were,  yet  it  will 
give  the  reader  a  very  correct  idea  of  his  style  of  sermon- 
izing, and,  at  the  same  time,  the  precious  truth  it  unfolds 
may  comfort  some  sorrowing  ones,  by  leading  their  thoughts 
onward  to  the  glad  morning  of  the  resurrection. 


S  E  11 M  0  N . 


Acts  xxvi.  8. 

WHY  SHOULD    IT    BE    THOUGHT    A    THING    INCREDIBLE   WITH 
YOU,  THAT  GOD  SHOULD  RAISE  THE  DEAD? 

There  are  two  books  on  which  the  writinsj  of 
God's  finger  is  seen;  the  books  of  Nature  and 
Revelation:  and  these  never  disagree — one 
may  contain  a  lesson  not  found  in  the  other, 
and  so  they  may  be  supplementary,  but  they 
can  never  be  contradictory — the  rotation  of 
the  earth,  and  its  revolution  around  the  sun, 
could  never  have  been  learned  from  the  Bible, 
for  they  are  truths  which  do  not  come  within 
the  range  of  its  teachings.  But  the  Bible, 
when  properly  understood,  supports  no  oppo- 
sing theory.  So  also,  nature  itself  could  never 
have  taught  the  fact  of  an  atonement,  though 
it  most  strongly  hints  at  its  necessity.  This 
agreement,  of  course,  results  from  their  common 
22* 


258  SERMON   BY   THE 

authorship.  God  cannot  contradict  himself. 
But  it  is  also  the  foundation  of  an  important 
principle  to  us.  "We  are  never  required  to 
believe  anything  which  is  abhorrent  to  the 
unbiassed  judgment.  Those  laws  and  regu- 
lations which  God  has  written  upon  our  souls 
are  never  violated  or  set  at  defiance  by  the 
laws  He  has  given  in  the  inspired  volume. 
A  careful  distinction  must,  however,  always 
be  made  between  what  is  contradictory  to 
reason,  and  what  is  higher  than  reason, — even 
between  what  is  improbable,  and  what  is 
incredible.  One,  reasoning  beforehand,  might 
say  there  was  a  strong  antecedent  improba- 
bility that  Christ  would  leave  the  throne  of 
His  glory,  and  come  to  this  world,  to  be  a 
servant,  obedient  even  unto  death,  for  us. 
And  yet  when  we  remember  He  is  a  God  of 
infinite  goodness  and  love,  it  is  not  incredible. 
I  can  believe  it.  It  is  higher  than  my  unaided 
reason  could  soar.  My  reason  reaches  scarcely 
beyond  the  idea  of  a  man  laying  down  his  life 
for  his  friend.  But  here  is  the  Son  of  God 
dying,  while  we  are  yet  enemies.     But  it  does 


REV.  JOHN   C,   THOM.  259 

IT 

not  contradict  my  reason,  for  reason  itself 
teaches  that  the  ways  of  God  are  higher  than 
those  of  man.  But  when  I  am  asked  to  believe 
that  sprinkling  water  on  a  man,  without  any 
agency  of  his  own,  has  completely  changed  his 
whole  nature,  though  I  see  him  act  and  feel 
just  as  wickedly  as  before;  or,  that  by  a  few 
words  of  a  priest,  a  piece  of  bread  has  been 
changed  into  the  body,  and  soul,  and  divinity 
of  Christ,  though  I  see,  and  feel,  and  taste  it 
still  to  be  bread,  just  as  it  was  before,  it  is  con- 
tradictory to  reason,  and  I  must  refuse  my 
credence. 

It  is  true  that  many  things  are  pronounced 
to  be  incredible  by  the  advocates  of  a  one-sided 
philosophy,  which  are  clearly  reasonable,  as 
for  example,  that  the  sins  of  a  finite  creation 
should  be  punished  with  suffering  in  this  life, 
and  with  endless  misery  in  the  life  to  come.  But 
a  clearly  revealed  truth  cannot  be  set  aside  upon 
such  ex  parte  j  udgment.  The  incendiary,  doubt- 
less, thinks  it  unreasonable  that  the  act  of  a 
moment  should  be  punished  with  ten  years  of 
hard  labor;  yet  the  judge  does  not  hesitate  in 


260  SERMON   BY  THE 

his  sentence,  and  be  is  fully  borne  out  by  the 
judgment  of  an  enlightened  community.  The 
Apostle  recognizes  this  great  principle  in  his 
defence  before  Festus  and  Agrippa,  and  bases 
all  his  claims  to  be  heard,  upon  the  credibility 
of  the  doctrine  he  was  ready  to  die  to  defend — 
"  why  should  it  be  thought  a  thing  incredible 
with  you,  that  God  should  raise  the  dead?"  If 
it  be  incredible,  I  claim  no  hearing,  but  if  it 
be  not  contradictory  to  reason,  I  have  such 
strong  assurance  of  its  truth,  that  I,  like  the 
saints  of  old,  am  ready  to  be  tortured,  not 
accepting  deliverance,  in  hope  of  a  better  re- 
surrection, and  would  to  God  that  you  all  were 
altogether  such  as  I  am,  except  these  bonds. 
My  object,  to-day,  is  to  establish  the  credibil- 
ity of  the  doctrine  of  the  resurrection,  and  its 
consequent  claims  upon  our  belief. 

By  resurrection,  we  do  not  mean  that  spi- 
ritual restoration,  which  is  sometimes  called 
by  that  name ;  for  Paul  taught  that  both  the 
just  and  the  unjust  should  be  raised  from  the 
dead.  Nor  do  we  mean  simply  the  appearance, 
and  existence  of  the  soul,  in  a  future  world; 


REV.   JOHN    C.   THOM,  261 

for  as  we  hold  that  the  soul  never  loses  its 
consciousness — is  never  dead — it  cannot  pro- 
perly be  said  to  be  raised.  But  we  mean  the 
resuscitation  and  resurrection  of  the  body,  to 
be  united  again  with  the  disembodied  spirit, 
to  enjoy  or  suffer  the  just  recompense  of  the 
deeds  done  on  the  earth.  The  very  first  ground 
of  credibility  is  implied  in  the  text.  It  is  a 
work  of  God.  It  is  not  claimed  that  these 
bodies,  which  seem  so  subject  to  disease, 
decay,  and  death,  contain  an  inherent  power  of 
reconstruction  ;  that  after  their  long  sleep  in  the 
dust  they  shall,  of  themselves,  come,  atom  to 
atom,  and  bone  to  bone,  shake  off  the  slumber 
of  the  grave,  and  arise.  That  would  indeed 
be  incredible.  But  the  case  is  altogether  dif- 
ferent when  it  is  declared  that  all  this  is 
accomplished  by  the  power  of  God.  It  is  not 
incredible,  because  God  clearly  has  power 
sufficient  to  accomplish  it.  He  who  gathered 
our  dust  at  the  beginning,  and  formed  all  this 
strange  machinery  of  nerves  and  muscles, 
bones  and  sinews,  veins  and  arteries,  and  then 
caused  the  lungs  to  breathe,  the  heart  to  beat. 


262  SERMON   BY   THE 

and  the  vital  current  to  flo^Y,  without  a  mo- 
ment's intermission,  all  through  these  years ; 
He  is  able  to  reconstruct  and  reanimate  the 
fabric,  after  he  has  allowed  it  to  fall  to  decay. 
We  know  that  nothing  short  of  Divine  power 
can  accomplish  it.  God's  eye  follows  every 
human  being  through  all  the  streets  and  lanes 
of  life;  and  let  them  make  the  pillow  for  their 
last  sleep  in  the  wilds  of  the  unbroken  forest, 
in  the  dens  and  caves  of  the  earth, — amid  the 
coral  reefs,  and  unknown  habitations  of  the 
deep  blue  sea; — or  let  them  send  forth  the 
spirit  amid  the  roar  and  crackling  of  devour- 
ing fire,  and  know  when  they  all  are 

"Flung  to  the  heedless  winds 

And  scattered  to  the  blast, 

Their  ashes  can  be  watched, 

And  gathered  at  the  last," 

and  earth  and  sea,  and  death  and  hell,  be  com- 
pelled to  give  up  their  dead.  But  it  may  be 
urged,  though  God  be  clearly  able  to  raise 
the  body,  there  is  no  sufficient  reason  why  he 
should  do  so.  There  are  many  things  which 
God  is  able  to  do,  which  we  cannot  believe  he 


REV.   JOHN'   C.   TIIOM.  263 

would  do  without  suflicicnt  motive.  For 
example,  God  can  cast  all  the  angels  out  of 
heaven,  or  destroy  all  men  from  the  earth,  but 
we  cannot  believe  he  will  do  so,  without  any 
reason.  So,  if  any  attribute  of  the  Divine 
nature  is  violated  by  it,  we  cannot  believe  that 
God  will  raise  the  dead. 

I  remark  again,  therefore,  that  it  is  not 
incredible,  because  it  is  in  accordance  with  the 
luisdom  of  God.  God  does  all  his  works  for 
the  highest  possible  ends.  To  say  that  any- 
thing could  have  a  higher  or  better  object 
than  it  has,  would  be  to  call  in  question  the 
wisdom  and  goodness  of  the  Creator.  Now, 
does  it  accord  with  those  ideas  which  God  has 
given  us  of  wisdom,  that  such  a  strange,  com- 
pound being,  should  be  called  from  the  dust  of 
the  earth,  and  clothed  with  the  image  of  his 
Creator,  to  spend  his  life  like  a  tale  that  is  told, 
and  then  lie  down  in  the  grave  and  be  seen  no 
more  ?  "  What  a  piece  of  work  is  a  man !  How 
noble  in  reason!  how  infinite  in  faculties!  in 
form  and  moving  how  express  and  admirable! 
in  action,   how  like  an  angel !    in  apprehen- 


2t)4  SERMON   BY  THE 

sion,  how  like  a  God!  the  beauty  of  the  world! 
the  paragon  of  animals!"  shall  this  noble 
structure  fall  so  soon  into  irretrievable  decay? 
Shall  this  temple  endure  but  threescore  years 
and  ten,  and  then  be  cast  down,  and  not  one 
stone  be  left  upon  another?  Shall  this  human 
face  divine,  the  mirror  of  a  thousand  varied 
thoughts,  be  darkened  by  an  eternal  night? 
Shall  this  human  frame  become  the  cadaverous 
corpse,  the  reeking  feast  of  corruption  and  the 
worm,  the  naked  skeleton,  the  silent  dust,  and 
then  nothing?  Why,  if  this  be  all,  the  struc- 
tures of  men  have  outlived  a  hundred  genera- 
tions. Shall  the  pyramids,  erected  like  ant- 
hills, by  the  toil  of  myriads  of  men,  outlast, 
for  untold  ages,  their  God-built  builders?  As 
far  as  we  are  informed,  man  is  an  order  of 
beings  unknown  elsewhere  in  the  universe — a 
compound  of  body  and  spirit,  midway  between 
earth  and  heaven.  Now,  in  the  beautiful 
variety  of  God's  creation,  shall  the  important 
link  be  wanting?  Shall  man,  as  such,  be 
blotted  out  of  existence,  his  spirit  go  into  the 
ranks  of  the  angels,  and   his   body  fall  into 


•REV,   JOHN   C.   THOM.  205 

unformed  and  shapeless  matter?  or  shall  this 
noble  structure  be  rebuilt,  this  corruptible  put 
on  incorruption,  and  this  mortal  put  on  immor- 
tality, and  ten  thousand  thousand  redeemed 
souls,  not  unclothed,  but  clothed  upon  with 
glorious  bodies,  stand  in  the  armies  of  heaven, 
and  shout  God's  praises  for  ever  and  ever? 
Why  should  it  be  thought  a  thing  incredible 
with  you,  that  God  should  raise  the  dead? 

It  is  also  agreeable  to  the  justice  of  God. 
Not  only  does  the  soul  transgress  the  law 
of  God,  but  the  body  is  also  an  instrument  of 
sin.  Not  only  is  the  spirit  of  God's  children 
obedient  to  his  commands;  they  serve  him 
with  their  bodies  and  spirits,  which  are  the 
Lord's.  Now,  is  it  not  reasonable  that  the 
body  shall  be  partaker  of  suffering  or  enjoy- 
ment in  the  world  to  come?  In  this  world 
the  body,  as  well  as  the  soul,  endures  the  con- 
sequences of  sin.  While  the  soul  languishes 
and  mourns,  the  body,  also,  is  broken  and 
decrepit.  Shall  this  even  handed  justice  cease 
in  the  future  ordinances  of  God?  When 
Cranmer  came  to  the  stake,  he  thought  his 
23 


266  SERMON   BY  THE 

remorse  and  penitence  of  soul  were  not,  alone, 
sufficient  punishment  for  his  sin,  but  he  thrust 
his  right-hand,  which  had  signed  his  recanta- 
tion, into  the  scorching  fire  till  it  was  con- 
sumed. Shall  not  the  right  hand  of  forgery, 
of  rapine,  and  murder,  the  tongue  of  deceit, 
and  the  body  of  voluptuousness  and  debauch- 
ery, suffer  with  the  soul  which  they  served  as 
the  instruments  of  iniquity?  As  the  whole 
man,  body  and  soul,  is  the  criminal  here,  shall 
not  the  whole  man,  body  and  soul,  suffer  the 
penalty?  We  know  not  what  that  penalty 
may  be,  and  we  have  no  right  to  speculate. 
We  know  it  will  be  unspeakably  dreadful,  and 
we  have  no  right  to  expect  that  any  part  of 
our  being,  body  or  soul,  will  escape  the  ven- 
geance of  an  outraged  Deity.  It  is  reasonable, 
on  account  of  his  justice,  that  God  should  raise 
the  dead. 

Still  further,  the  mercy  of  God  is  interested 
in  the  resurrection  of  man.  We  enjoy  many 
pleasures  in  this  world.  Some  of  them  are 
high  and  holy.  But  are  these  all  which  the 
boundless  love  of  our  Father  in  heaven  has 


REV.  JOHN   C.  THOM.  267 

prepared  for  those  who  love  him?  Are  these 
the  joys  which  eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear 
heard,  nor  mind  conceived?  Nay,  boundless 
goodness  must  have  a  wider  range,  a  higher 
height,  and  a  deeper  depth.  But  it  may  be 
said,  these  future  enjoyments  belong  to  the 
soul  alone.  In  the  first  place,  that  supposes 
man  to  be  a  totally  different  being,  in  the 
world  to  come;  for  all  the  enjoyments  we  have 
in  our  souls  in  this  world,  come  directly,  or 
indirectly,  through  the  bodily  senses.  We 
learn  even  the  word  of  God,  the  way  of  salva- 
tion, through  the  eyes  and  ears  of  the  fleshly 
body,  and  we  pray  and  praise  with  our  lips  of 
clay.  It  is  a  popular  idea  that  these  dull  clods 
impede  the  action  of  the  spirit,  and  we  would 
be  better  off'  without  them.  It  is  true  that 
this  body  is  corrupted  and  defaced  by  sin. 
But  it  is  a  glorious  body  still.  It  was  built  at 
first  by  the  hand  of  God  himself,  for  high  and 
holy  purposes,  and  wrecked  as  it  is,  it  is  still 
the  instrument,  and,  as  far  as  we  can  see,  almost 
the  only  instrument,  through  which  impres- 
sions  are  made    upon  the   soul,    or   through 


268  SERMON   BY  THE 

which  the  soul  acts  upon  the  world  without; 
and  so,  then,  instead  of  being  better  ofif  with- 
out the  body,  if  stripped  of  it,  we  would  lose 
the  great  means  of  our  power  and  enjoyment. 
The  spirits  of  the  just  will  be  happy  in  their 
disembodied  state,  but  they  will  not  be  perfect 
till  reunited,  and  both  soul  and  body  are  glo- 
rified together.  And  even  were  this  not  so, 
shall  the  bodies  of  the  children  of  God  be 
deprived  in  heaven  of  all  those  enjoyments 
which  they  experience  here?  Shall  the  thrill 
of  health  .and  vigor  be  felt  no  more?  Shall 
the  soft  breath  of  the  evening  breeze  never 
kiss  the  immortal  cheek?  Shall  the  hand  no 
more  feel  the  grasp  of  pure  affection,  when  in 
the  great  assembly  we  stand  in  high  raptures 
around  the  throne  of  our  glorified  Eedeemer? 
When  contemplating  the  prison-house  of  Eter- 
nal Justice  we  shrink  back,  overawed  by  the 
dread  secrecy  of  God,  but  when  he  has  clearly 
revealed  that  the  treasure  of  his  everlasting 
love  will  be  opened  to  the  redeemed  from 
among  men,  is   it   incredible   that   the  body 


REV.   JOHN   C.  THOM.  269 

should  be  raised,  that  the  whole  man,  body 
and  soul,  should  rejoice  together? 

As  I  have  shown  that  the  resurrection  is 
not  incredible  as  an  act  of  God's  power,  and 
demanded  by  his  attributes,  so  I  might  also 
show  it  is  not  opposed  to  the  feelings  and 
instincts  God  has  given  to  man.  Why  do  we 
adorn  the  graves  of  friends?  Why,  like  Mary, 
do  we  go  and  weep  there  ?  Why  do  we  shrink 
back,  often  in  spite  of  all  our  philosophy,  from 
being  torn  to  pieces  after  our  death,  or  from 
lying  in  an  unknown  grave?  Why  do  we 
rejoice  to  think  our  couch  will  be  strewed 
with  flowers,  and  watered  with  tears?  It  is 
because  God  has  taught  us  that  even  our  dead 
bodies  are  sacred,  are  held  in  reserve  for  a 
future  life,  and  we  cannot  unteach  ourselves, 
try  as  we  may.  Why  is  it,  when  we  think  of 
heaven,  we  think  of  the  redeemed  as  well  as 
of  the  Eedeemer,  and  expect  to  see  them  there? 
I  had  a  dear  young  friend  in  our  neighboring 
city.  She  died  of  a  lingering  disease.  It  was 
a  glorious  sight  to  see  that  pure  young  saint 
putting  off,  day  by  day,  the  earthly  house,  and 
23* 


270  SERMON   BY   THE 

growing  more  and  more  like  heaven.  She 
had  given  her  short  life  to  the  service  of  her 
Saviour,  and  now  that  she  felt  his  hand  lead- 
ing her  gently  down  into  the  cold  river,  there 
was  no  starting  back,  no  fear:  it  was  the 
unshrinking  step  of  the  child  which  feels  its 
father's  arras  around  it.  But  as  she  grew 
weaker,  and  the  gate  of  heaven  seemed  to  be 
nearer,  and  she  saw  the  multitude  which  no 
man  can  number,  around  the  throne  of  God, 
one  thought  oppressed  her:  might  not  her 
mother  be  separated  from  her  side,  and  be  lost 
to  her  among  so  many?  After  telling  her 
mother  her  misgiving,  she  said,  "Mother,  when 
you  die,  be  buried  by  my  side,  and  when 
Jesus  comes,  we  will  rise  together.  I  will 
take  your  hand,  and  together  we  will  go  to 
glory,  and  I  will  never,  never  let  you  go." 
Call  it  not  a  childish  fancy.  Call  it  not  supersti- 
tion. There  is  something  in  every  good  man's 
heart,  which  responds  to  such  a  feeling.  It  is 
God  saying  to  us,  that  "these  dead  bodies 
shall  arise  again."  "Awake  and  sing,  ye  that 
dwell  in  the  dust,  for  thy  dew  is  as  the  dew  of 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  271 

herbs,  and  the  earth  shall  cast  out  her  dead." 
I  might  also  add,  there  are  a  thousand  analo- 
gies in  nature  which  seem  strongly  to  hint  at 
a  resurrection.  But  the  truth  seems  so  strong, 
and  clear,  and  glorious,  I  have  no  heart  for 
any  more  analogies.  You  have  often  heard 
them  presented.  The  crawling  worm,  which 
seems  to  be  lifeless  for  a  while,  bursts  its  cere- 
ments, and  comes  forth  in  a  form  of  beauty, 
and  floats  away  upon  golden  wings.  The  tree, 
stripped  of  its  foliage,  stands  bare,  and  appa- 
rently lifeless,  amid  the  storms  of  winter,  but 
it  buds  and  blooms  in  the  spring.  The  seed, 
cast  into  its  grave,  springs  up,  and  brings 
forth  much  fruit.  Even  the  little  brook  which 
goes  sparkling  through  your  green  fields,  is 
consumed  away  by  the  drought  of  summer, 
but  it  is  not  lost.  It  goes  to  the  clouds  of 
heaven,  and  returns  again  upon  the  earth.  Of 
all  these  you  have  heard,  and  they  teach  us 
that  it  is  not  a  thing  incredible  that  God 
should  raise  the  dead. 

It  is  true,  that  God's  power  is  clearly  suffi- 
cient to  raise  the  dead.     It  is  true,  that  God's 


272  SERMON   BY  THE 

wisdom,  and  justice,  and   goodness,  seem   to 
demand   the    resurrection.      It   is   true,    that 
man's  instincts  and  desires,  given  him  bj  his 
Maker,  point   to   a  resurrection.     It  is   true, 
there  are  ten   thousand   analogies  in  nature, 
which   indicate   a   resurrection.      All   this   is 
true;   but  all  this  is  not  enough,  when  hell 
rolls  beneath  us;  "for  if  the  dead  rise  not,  then 
is  not  Christ  raised ;  and  if  Christ  be  not  raised, 
your  faith  is  vain,  ye  are  yet  in  your  sins;  and 
they  also  which  are  fallen  asleep  in  Christ  are 
perished."     God  has  not,  therefore,  left  us  with 
an  uncertain  light.     He  has  cast  the  full  blaze 
of  his  word  upon  this  momentous  subject,  so 
that  he  that  runs  may  read.     Here  the  strife  is 
ended,  our  doubts  are  set  at  rest,  and  life  and 
immortality  clearly  brought   to  light.     It   is 
difficult  to  select  proofs  from  the  Bible,  when 
the   whole   volume   takes   a   resurrection   for 
granted.     Job,  one  of  the  most  ancient  of  the 
worthies,  triumphed  over  all  his  temptations 
and   sufferings   by   this   reflection:    whatever 
might  befall  him  here,  even  though  he  should 
be  crushed  to  the  grave,  and  devoured  by  cor- 


REV.   JOHN   C.   THOM.  273 

ruption,  be  should  sleep  in  the  dust  but  a  little 
while.  Stand  back,  ye  enemies!  The  day  of 
your  triumph  will  soon  be  over.  "I  know  that 
my  Redeemer  liveth,  and  that  he  shall  stand 
at  the  latter  day  upon  the  earth ;  and  though 
after  my  skin  worms  destroy  this  body,  yet  in 
my  flesh  shall  I  see  God;  whom  I  shall  see 
for  myself,  and  mine  eyes  shall  behold,  and 
not  another,  though  my  reins  be  consumed 
within  me."  David's  view  was  no  less  clear. 
Even  when  the  wicked  oppressed  him,  and 
his  deadly  enemies  compassed  him  about,  he 
says,  "My  heart  is  glad,  and  my  glory  re- 
joiceth;  ray  flesh  also  shall  rest  in  hope." 
"  As  for  me,  I  will  behold  thy  face  in  right- 
eousness :  I  shall  be  satisfied,  when  I  awake 
with  thy  likeness."  Isaiah  saw  God  roll 
back  the  covering  cast  over  all  people,  and 
swallow  up  death  in  victory.  Ezekiel  saw 
the  great  multitude  of  dead,  separated  and 
scattered  upon  the  earth,  and  yet  at  the  breath 
of  God's  Spirit,  they  came,  bone  to  his  bone, 
and  the  dead  arose  and  lived,  an  exceeding 
great  army.     Daniel  says,  "  Many  of  them  that 


274  SERMON   BY  THE 

sleep  in  the  dust  of  the  earth  shall  awake, 
some  to  everlasting  life,  and  some  to  shame 
and  everlasting  contempt."  Hosea  saw  the 
prison  of  the  grave  invaded,  and  the  power 
of  death  broken;  he  heard  God's  voice:  "I 
will  ransom  them  from  the  power  of  the 
grave;  I  will  redeem  them  from  death;  O 
death,  I  will  be  thy  plagues!  O  grave,  I  will 
be  thy  destruction !"  Paul  himself  applies  this 
language  to  the  resurrection,  and  as  he  kindles 
at  the  glorious  prospect,  he  bursts  out,  "0 
death,  where  is  thy  sting?  O  grave,  where 
is  thy  victory?"  When  we  come  to  the  New 
Testament,  the  subject  is  even  more  clearly 
brought  out.  God  is  declared  to  be  the  God 
of  those  who  went  into  the  grave  two  thou- 
sand years  before,  yet  he  is  not  the  God  of  the 
dead,  but  of  the  living.  Abraham,  Isaac,  and 
Jacob  were  not  dead,  they  were  but  sleeping. 
"Marvel  not  at  this,"  says  Christ,  "for  the  hour 
is  coming  in  the  which  all  that  are  in  the  grave 
shall  hear  his  voice,  and  shall  come  forth." 
"  I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life."  Nay,  the 
scene  itself  is  described.     Christ,  as  Judge  and 


REV.   JOHN   C.  THOM.  275 

King,  is  seated  upon  the  throne.  The  trumpet 
sounds.  The  dead  awake.  They  shake  oft" 
the  clods  of  the  grave,  and  come  forth.  The 
holy  angels  gather  the  vast  assembly  around 
the  throne,  and  they  stand,  according  to  their 
merit,  at  the  right  hand  and  the  left. 

The  apostles,  we  are  told  again  and  again, 
preached  Jesus,  and  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead.  Paul  professedly  discusses  the  subject 
in  an  entire  chapter,  the  xv.  of  1  Corinthians. 
And  John,  after  he  had  pointed  forward  to  it, 
through  the  whole  of  the  Apocalypse,  when 
he  came  toward  the  close,  and  was  about  to 
finish  the  Book  of  inspiration,  and  seal  it  for 
ever,  leaves  these  words  ringing  upon  our 
ears,  among  the  last  of  inspired  utterances. 
He,  the  last  survivor,  looks  back  over  the 
blood-stained  graves  of  all  the  apostles,  and 
multitudes  of  the  saints  of  the  Lord,  who  had 
been  crucified,  and  burnt,  and  stoned,  and 
sawn  asunder,  and  then  he  glanced  forward  to 
their  reward.  "I  saw,"  says  he,  "the  dead, 
small  and  great,  stand  before  God ;  and  the 
books  were  opened;  and  the  dead  were  judged 


276  SERMON  BY  THE 

out  of  those  thins^s  which  were  written  in  the 
books,  according  to  their  works.  And  the  sea 
gave  up  the  dead  which  were  in  it;  and  death 
and  hell  delivered  up  the  dead  which  were  in 
them." 

Do  we  need  more  assurance?  Is  it  still  a 
vague  and  uncertaia  thing?  Christ,  in  pity 
for  our  weakness,  has  done  even  more.  He 
has  shown  his  power  over  death.  He  called 
the  sleeping,  and  they  awoke;  and  he  himself, 
when  he  was  bound  with  the  chains  of  death, 
and  sealed  up  in  the  grave,  conquered  the  con- 
queror upon  his  throne.  He  rose,  he  burst 
the  bands  of  death,  and  triumphed  over  the 
grave!  Now,  since  our  glorious  Head  has 
ascended  upon  high,  we  also  shall  be  raised  up. 
These  were  the  considerations  which  filled  the 
mind  of  Paul,  when  he  stood  so  fearlessly, 
chained  as  he  was,  in  the  presence  of  Festus 
and  Agrippa.  What  to  him  were  the  chain, 
and  the  dungeon,  and  the  rack,  and  the  cross 
itself,  when  he  knew  that  his  bruised,  and 
lashed,  and  scarred  body,  would  be  raised  a 
glorious  body,  and  every  mark  of  the  conflict 


REV.  JOHN   C.   THOM.  277 

would  be  a  badge  of  honor?  What  to  him 
was  the  august  presence  of  governors  and 
kings,  when  he  knew  he  should  stand  in  the 
presence  of  the  hosts  of  heaven,  and  the  Judge 
of  the  quick  and  dead?  None  of  these 
things  moved  him,  neither  did  he  count  his 
life  dear  to  himself,  so  that  he  might  finish  his 
course  with  joy. 

My  dear  friends,  does  this  glorious  truth 
seem  a  reality  to  you?  Is  the  grave  a  place 
of  rest,  and  death,  and  sleep,  and  are  all  the 
interests  of  this  short  life  clustered  around  the 
time  of  waking?  Then  what  matters  the  toils 
and  troubles  of  to-day?  What  matters  it,  if 
we  be  poor  and  despised?  When  we  awake, 
and  come  forth  to  glory,  and  honor,  and 
eternal  life,  these  griefs  shall  all  be  forgotten. 
Let  me  be  a  sufferer,  let  me  be  a  beggar,  let 
me  be  a  slave  in  this  short  hour  of  my  exist- 
ence, if  I  may  thus  obtain  a  better  resurrec- 
tion. But  you  that  live  at  ease,  and  lay  up 
no  treasure  against  the  time  to  come,  what  a 
miserable  awaking  will  that  be?  How  you 
will  cling  to  your  coffins,  and  hug  the  walls  of 
24 


278  SERMON. 

the  grave!  ITow  you  Avill  bide  your  bead  in 
the  dust,  and  long  to  cover  yourself  again 
Avitb  corruption,  but  in  vain!  No  marble 
monument,  no  towering  pyramid,  no,  not  tbe 
Alps  or  Andes,  heaped  upon  your  breast,  can 
hold  you  in  your  tomb.  You,  too,  shall  hear 
the  voice  of  God  and  live.  Oh,  turn  now!  Fly 
to  the  Saviour!  Give  him  your  service.  Fight 
the  good  fight.  Bespeak  your  crown,  and 
your  throne.  Then  shall  your  heart  be  glad, 
and  your  glory  rejoice.  Your  flesh,  also,  shall 
rest  in  hope.  Then  shall  you  also  be  satisfied 
when  you  awake,  not  in  this  decrepit,  dis- 
eased, and  dying  form,  but  in  the  glorious 
likeness  of  the  Son  of  God. 


Action  of  the   Ghiuxh  at  St.  Louis,  on  the  death 
of  the  Kev.  John  C.  Thom. 

At  a  regular  convened  meeting  of  the  Con- 
gregation of  Pine  Street  Presbyterian  Church, 
on  January  2d,  1866,  the  following  preamble 
and  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted: 

In  the  mysterious  providence  of  God,  we 
are  called  to  mourn  the  death  of  Rev.  J.  C. 
Thom,  pastor  elect  of  this  church,  who  was 
removed  from  us  on  the  28th  day  of  Novem- 
ber, 1865. 

In  view  of  this  unexpected  affliction,  it  be- 
comes us  to  express  our  sense  of  the  great  loss 
we  have  sustained,  and  our  recognition  of  the 
Almighty's  hand  in  His  strange  dealings  with 
our  church,  already  so  sorely  tried. 

When,  after  a  long  season  of  suffering  and 
calamity,  Brother  Thom  came  among  us  to 
minister  to  our  spiritual  wants,  we  hailed  his 
arrival  as  the  dawn  of  a  brighter  day  for  our 
dejected  and  scattered  people.  We  fondly 
hoped  that  with  the  blessing  of  God  attending 
his  prudent  and  conciliatory  conduct,  his  fer- 


280 

vent  piety,  and  liis  eminent  pulpit  talents,  that 
he  would  soon  build  up  our  waste  places,  and 
refresh  our  thirsty  spirits  with  the  "stream 
that  maketh  glad  the  city  of  God."  But  alas! 
after  preaching  to  us  only  four  Sabbaths,  the 
summons  came,  which  called  him  from  the 
labors  of  earth  to  the  rest  of  heaven. 

We  are  thus  again  left  as  a  flock  without  a 
shepherd,  and  with  earnest  entreaty  lift  up  our 
cry  to  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  for  the 
guidance  of  His  Spirit,  and  for  the  abundant 
communications  of  His  grace  in  the  darkness 
of  this  sad  dispensation. 

Therefore,  be  it  Resolved, 

First.  That  as  a  church  we  deserve  the 
correction  we  have  received  from  our  heavenly 
Father,  and  while  submitting  to  His  will,  we 
fervently  pray  that  the  chastening  may  work 
out  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness  to  all 
the  members  of  this  communion. 

Second.  Feeling  that  the  Lord  has  a  con- 
troversy with  us,  because  of  our  many  sins, 
and  especially  because  of  the  dissensions  and 
strifes   which   have    rent   the   bosom   of   the 


281 

church,  we  would  humble  ourselves  in  His 
Holy  presence;  and  joining  hands  and  hearts 
over  the  grave  of  our  departed  pastor,  pledge 
ourselves,  if  it  be  possible,  as  much  as  lieth  in 
us  to  live  peaceably  with  all  men,  and  hence- 
forth to  work  together  in  harmony  and 
brotlierly  love  for  the  advancement  of  the 
Kedeemer's  kingdom. 

Third.  Our  gratitude  is  due  to  Almighty 
God  for  the  deep  interest  which  our  deceased 
brother  felt  in  our  welfare,  and  for  the  loving 
supplications  which  ascended  even  from  his 
dying  bed  in  our  behalf. 

Fourth.  We  desire  to  express  our  profound 
sympathy  with  his  bereaved  widow,  and  father- 
less children,  and  most  tenderly  commend 
them  to  the  grace  of  the  compassionate 
Saviour,  who  has  said,  "I  will  never  leave 
thee  nor  forsake  thee." 

Rev.  James  H.  Brookes,  D.  D., 
Moderator. 
James  McQ.  Douglas,  Secretary. 

Sl.  Louis,  January  2d,  1866. 


282 


Resolutions  of  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  on  the 
death  of  the  Rev.  John  C.  Thom.  April  12, 
1866. 

Whereas^  This  Presbytery  has  learned  that 
the  Rev.  John  C.  Thora  has  departed  this  life, 
since  its  last  meeting,  and  although,  not  a 
member  of  this  Presbytery  at  the  time  of  his 
decease,  yet  so  short  a  time  having  elapsed 
from  leaving  us,  until  he  was  called  away,  we 
consider  it  appropriate  for  us,  as  a  Presbytery, 
to  take  notice  of  the  death  of  one  who  for  six 
years  was  a  member  of  our  body;  and 

Whereas,  While  a  member  of  this  Presby- 
tery he  endeared  himself  to  us  by  his  courte- 
ous, obliging,  and  benevolent  demeanor,  his 
uprightness  and  consistency,  his  diligence  in 
attendance,  and  in  the  performance  of  all  the 
duties  required  of  him,  his  zeal  for  our  Master, 
and  his  love  to  all  our  Master's  followers;  and 

Whereas,  We  recognize  in  our  deceased 
brother  one  well  qualified  by  natural  gifts,  by 


283 

education,  and  by  the  graces  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  for  the  work  of  the  ministry;  and  do 
now  recognize  in  his  death,  though  we  believe 
it  was  gain  to  him,  a  great  loss  to  ourselves, 
his  family,  the  church  to  which  he  for  a  short 
time  ministered,  and  to  the  whole  church; 
therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  our  sympathy  to 
his  sadl}^  bereaved  family ;  and  as  our  covenant 
God  is  faithful,  and  has  promised  to  be  the 
God  of  his  people  and  their  seed,  we  trust  and 
pray  that  our  Father  in  heaven  will  be  a 
husband  to  the  widow,  and  a  father  to  the 
fatherless. 

Resolved,  That  the  church  to  which  our 
deceased  brother  was  called  to  minister,  and 
which  was  so  soon  deprived  of  one  who,  by 
the  blessing  of  God  on  his  labors,  was  so 
eminently  fitted  to  build  them  up  in  faith, 
holiness,  and  peace,  and  heal  all  their  divisions, 
has  our  sincere  sympathy  in  their  bereave- 
ment, and  that  our  prayer  is,  that  the  great 
Head  of  the  Church  may  soon  give  them  a 


284 

pastor  to  succeed  him  whom  he  has  so  sud- 
denly removed  from  among  them. 

Resolved,  That  copies  of  these  resolutions  be 
sent  for  publication  to  the  Presbyterian  and 
Presbyterian  Banner;  and  also  to  the  widow  of 
the  deceased. 

John  Farquhar, 

Stated  Clerk  of  Presbytery  of  Donej^al. 


^^•li^jS: 


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